Best Chemicals and Materials Tech Companies in Illinois, United States
The 39 best Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in Illinois, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: LanzaTech.
Our analysis of 50 Chemicals and Materials Tech companies
$4.4b in tracked funding; 79% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in Illinois
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Web popularity | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LanzaTech 🦄 Developer of technology converting carbon-rich gases into fuels and chemicals 78Patents top 10%Funding top 17%News top 25%Innovation top 26% All 13 signals ▾Patentstop 10% Fundingtop 17% Newstop 25% Innovationtop 26% Moattop 26% Producttop 29% Markettop 30% Talenttop 34% Partnerstop 35% Techtop 36% Globaltop 37% Growthtop 45% Fin. healthbottom 48% Patents: 765 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 530 filings since 2022 vs 213 in 2017-21 Funding: Raised $869M across 21 rounds · 21 rounds over 21 yrs (1.0/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 78/100 | $869M | 7 mo ago | 367 367 → 243 (-34%) | Sean Simpson Co-Founder | DrupalPHPSalesforce+32 | Top 5M | 765 patents Continuous microbial gas fermentation converting C1 gases to chemicals and proteins | — |
| 2 | AKHAN Semiconductor Provider of synthetic diamond materials for the semiconductor industry | $26M | 57 mo ago | 25 | — | — | — | 69 patents Diamond CVD thin‑film processes for semiconductor, tooling and stress‑engineered optical devices | — |
| 3 | Mattiq Developer of an experimentation platform for accelerating materials discovery and design 53AI top 18%Moat top 31%Patents top 32%Innovation top 34% All 9 signals ▾AItop 18% Moattop 31% Patentstop 32% Innovationtop 34% Talenttop 38% Fundingtop 43% Techbottom 48% Globalbottom 35% Marketbottom 28% AI: Classified as an AI company · Holds AI/ML patents (G06N-family CPC) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 16 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 53/100 | $24M | 20 mo ago | 19 | Andrey Ivankin Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+25 | Top 10M | 16 patents Designing AI‑guided mixed‑metal electrocatalysts and transparent substrates for nanoscale material analysis. | — |
| 4 | NuMat Developer of nanoporous structures | $23M | 100 mo ago | 41 | — | — | — | 33 patents Advanced metal‑organic framework adsorbents and electrochemical synthesis for contaminant removal | — |
| 5 | Nanophase Developer and distributor of metal oxide nano-powder | $22M | 30 mo ago | 46 | Jess Jankowski President & Chief Executive Officer | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Numat Developer of metal-organic framework solutions for chemical capture and separation | $21M | 37 mo ago | 38 | Benjamin Hernandez Co-Founder & CEO | WordPress Site EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+22 | Top 10M | 33 patents Advanced metal‑organic framework adsorbents and electrochemical synthesis for contaminant removal | — |
| 7 | BluePallet Provider of a cloud-based marketplace for chemicals | $17M | 45 mo ago | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Autonomic Materials Beauty, food, and health insights for a vibrant lifestyle | $16M | 50 mo ago | 11 | — | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+11 | Top 50M | — | — |
| 9 | EpiWorks Developer of semiconductor wafers | $8M | 305 mo ago | 57 | — | — | — | 10 patents Manufacturing multi-junction semiconductor photovoltaic cells for high-efficiency solar power. | — |
| 10 | Lukla Apparel Provider of solar core aerogel based winter wear | $7M | 62 mo ago | — | Michael Markesbery Co-Founder | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Electroninks Provider of particle-free conductive inks for application in printed electronics | $7M | 54 mo ago | 33 33 → 43 (+30%) | — | — | — | 72 patents Printable conductive inks and metallized patterns for flexible electronics. | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 12 | Tagore Provider of GaN semiconductor technology for RF and power applications | $7M | 14 mo ago | 38 | Amitava Das Co-Founder & COO | WordPressMySQLPHP+17 | Top 10M | — | 1 launch · 1 award |
| 13 | Advanced Diamond Technologies Develop nanometers thin diamond wafers for various applications | $6M | 150 mo ago | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | MicroLink Devices Compound semiconductor solutions for metalorganic chemical vapor deposition | $6M | 155 mo ago | 36 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+18 | Top 50M | 107 patents Patents concentrated in electrical & electronics | — |
| 15 | Stoicheia Provider of AI-enabled diverse nanomaterials | $5M | 66 mo ago | — | Chad Mirkin Co-Founder | — | — | 6 patents AI-accelerated materials characterization and structure prediction for functional material design | — |
| 16 | Editekk Manufacturer of advanced materials for nuclear, hypersonic, and drill applications | $3M | 74 mo ago | 4 | Zak Koyn CEO/CTO | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Låkril Technologies Provider of bio-based acrylic acid and acrylate derivatives | $1M | 21 mo ago | 1 | Paul Dauenhauer Co-Founder | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Codeac Solutions Provider of rapid nuclear detection solutions | $1M | 30 mo ago | — | Ben Hall CEO | — | — | 2 patents Colorimetric biosensing methods for detecting specific particles in analytical assays | — |
| 19 | Phi Optics Provider of spatial light interference technology-based optical microscopy solutions | $450K | 50 mo ago | 7 | Gabriel Popescu CEO & Founder | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | KEYENCE Manufacturer of factory automation sensors, measuring instruments, and vision systems | $225K | 43 mo ago | 10,580 10,580 → 6,689 (-37%) | Takemitsu Takizaki Co-Founder | Apple iCloud MailJavaVideoJS+29 | Top 500k | — | 5 launchs |
| 21 | SmarterShade Developer of user-controlled, powerless, affordable smart glass for privacy and energy | $200K | 160 mo ago | 2 | Will McLeod Founder | — | — | 14 patents Mechanically actuated smart windows controlling light transmission for building glazing. | — |
Top 12 Chemicals and Materials Tech companies in Illinois
#1
Public · Skokie, Illinois · founded 2005 · 367 employees$869.3Mraised▾
Developer of technology converting carbon-rich gases into fuels and chemicals. The company provides solutions for energy security and economic strength. It transforms industrial emissions and gasified waste into ethanol. This ethanol serves as a building block for sustainable aviation fuel and chemical derivatives. The company partners with industries to capture and process carbon-rich gases.
- Jan 2026Post IPO$20M
- Jun 2025Grant (prize money)$2.5M
- Apr 2025Grant (prize money)$1.9M
- Jan 2025Grant (prize money)$2.5M
#2
Series A · Arlington Heights, Illinois · founded 2011 · 38 employees$6.7Mraised▾
Provider of GaN semiconductor technology for RF and power applications. It provides users with a company that specializes in Gallium Nitride-on-Silicon (GaN-on-Si) semiconductor technology for Radio Frequency (RF) applications. They develop RF GaN devices such as RF switches, power amplifiers, and low noise amplifiers for various applications including public safety, tactical radio, and 5G infrastructure.
- Jul 2025Series A$2M
- Jun 2023Conventional Debt$1.5M
- Nov 2021Conventional Debt$4M
- Jul 2019Grant (prize money)$224.9K
#3
Seed · Skokie, Illinois · founded 2020 · 19 employees$24.1Mraised▾
Developer of an experimentation platform for accelerating materials discovery and design. The platform transforms materials discovery from trial-and-error methods to intelligence-driven design. The company aims to unlock the materials blueprint, igniting the next era of human progress.
- Dec 2024Seed$4.5M
- Sep 2024Grant (prize money)$275K
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$1.3M
- Feb 2023Grant (prize money)$199.7K
#4
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2021 · 1 employees$1.4Mraised▾
Provider of bio-based acrylic acid and acrylate derivatives. It uses catalyst technology for catalytic dehydration, bio-based acrylic acid, and replacements in the paints, coatings, adhesives, and superabsorbents industries. Its catalyst technology for catalytic dehydration of hydroxy acids allows the supply of sustainable, bio-based acrylic acid and acrylate derivatives as replacements to the paints, coatings, adhesives, and superabsorbents industries at the lowest cost.
- Nov 2024Series A$2.9M
- Sep 2024Grant (prize money)$650K
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$206.5K
- Apr 2023Grant (prize money)$256K
#5
Public · Romeoville, Illinois · founded 1989 · 46 employees$21.6Mraised▾
Developer and distributor of metal oxide nano-powder. It provides users with a public company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of metal oxide nano powders and solution developed by using them for applications in Energy, surface polishing, plastics, coatings, textiles and data storage. The company evolved from producer of nano-particles and now has capability to develop, coat and disperse nano-metal oxide.
- Mar 2024Post IPO$6M
- Dec 2017Post IPO$1M
- Feb 2016Post IPO$988K
- Oct 2005Conventional Debt$1.6M
#6
Series B · Skokie, Illinois · founded 2013 · 38 employees$21.4Mraised▾
Developer of metal-organic framework solutions for chemical capture and separation. The company provides materials designed for protection, separation, and purification in extreme environments. It offers solutions for industrial decarbonization and semiconductor manufacturing. The company scales precision chemistries to reduce the negative impact of chemical products and processes.
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$399.4K
- Aug 2022Series B—
- Jun 2022Grant (prize money)$200K
- Jun 2021Grant (prize money)$199.3K
#7
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2017 · 26 employees$16.5Mraised▾
Provider of a cloud-based marketplace for chemicals. It connects chemical sellers and buyers. It enables users to create a private group of peoples, and buy, sell, and share inventory with them. Its features include data collection and transaction monitoring.
- Nov 2022Series A$4.2M
- Oct 2021Series A$8.3M
- May 2021Seed$4M
- Apr 2020Seed$385K
#8
Series D · Champaign, Illinois · founded 2005 · 11 employees$16.2Mraised▾
Beauty, food, and health insights for a vibrant lifestyle. This platform delivers diverse content spanning beauty trends, nutritious recipes, and healthy living tips. Explore articles on skincare secrets, culinary delights, and wellness advice designed to enhance your daily life. Discover the latest in beauty innovations, from Korean cushion foundations to natural face masks. Indulge in flavorful and wholesome food options like quinoa salads and Middle Eastern falafel. Stay informed about essential health practices, including sun protection and skincare routines. This is a B2C platform that offers insights and inspiration for a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle, focusing on beauty, food, and health categories.
- Jun 2022Series D$3M
- Mar 2020Series C$2.4M
- Oct 2017Series C$3M
- Jan 2016Grant (prize money)$149.3K
#9
Series B · Gurnee, Illinois · founded 2012 · 25 employees$25.7Mraised▾
Provider of synthetic diamond materials for the semiconductor industry. This technology allows diamonds to adhere to metals and alloys in a way that allows for reliable wire bonding and high conductivity. The use of industrial diamond in semiconductors allows for thinner devices, operation at higher temperatures, and advanced design capabilities. It develops and manufactures nanocrystalline (NCD) based materials and devices. The platform enables the fabrication of complex devices such as high speed/power transistors, RF, and microwave electronics.
- Nov 2021Series B$20M
- Nov 2021Series A$5.7M
#10
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2021$1.3Mraised▾
Provider of rapid nuclear detection solutions. It provides users with a company that specializes in developing technology for the rapid detection of nuclear threats. Their technology allows for a definitive and instant colour change when in contact with nuclear materials, providing organizations with the ability to manage contamination threats effectively.
- Mar 2024Seed$1.3M
#11
Series B · Champaign, Illinois · founded 2013 · 33 employees$7.1Mraised▾
Provider of particle-free conductive inks for application in printed electronics. It develops particle-free conductive inks that are based on small-molecule chemistries. The inks result in films that can be printed via digital methods using roll-to-roll manufacturing techniques. Its inks are particle-free, and require no binders, because of which they can be printed to fine resolutions, annealed at low temperatures, and easily absorbed into fabrics and fibres. It also offers a pen filled with conductive ink to draw circuits. It has applications in displays, wearables, and consumer electronics.
- Feb 2022Series B—
- Aug 2019Grant (prize money)$1M
- Jul 2018Grant (prize money)$150K
- Aug 2017Series A$3.9M
#12
Series B · Skokie, Illinois · founded 2012 · 41 employees$22.6Mraised▾
Developer of nanoporous structures. It is a materials technology company that develops nanoporous materials specifically metal-organic frameworks and materials to enable gas storage challenging the need for compression. They design atomically engineered materials through the application of modern computing infrastructure to their proprietary material discovery algorithms, using which they create hypothetical structures, store these structures in databases, and then use high-performance cloud computing to rapidly simulate their properties.
- Apr 2018Series B$12.4M
- Mar 2017Series A$1.2M
- Jun 2016Series A$7M
- Dec 2015Series A—
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Chemicals and Materials Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
What Illinois researches in advanced materials
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign18
- University of Illinois Chicago7
- Western Illinois University1
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale1
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.