PRESS RELEASE
SurFunction GmbH closes successful financing round and strengthens market position
Saarbrücken-based company strengthens its equity capital with a mid-single-digit million amount and gains a well-known lead investor with Capnamic. Further growth, market expansion and development of complementary competencies are planned.
Saarbrücken, June 5, 2024 – SurFunction GmbH, a DeepTech company and pioneer in the field of laser-based surface modification, today announced the successful closing of a significant round of financing. The round was led by Capnamic, one of the leading early stage investors in technology companies. Existing investors also participated, reaffirming their confidence in SurFunction’s breakthrough technologies and growth potential.
SurFunction plans to use the new funds to advance the development and commercialization of its Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) technology and to add other complementary technology building blocks. SurFunction’s technology enables the creation of high-precision, near-natural and sustainable surface structures that improve the properties of materials in innovative ways. Applications can be found in a wide range of industries, including automotive, medical and mechanical engineering.
“This financing round is an important milestone for SurFunction,” says Dr. Dominik Britz, founder and CEO of SurFunction GmbH. “Thanks to the support of Capnamic and our existing investors, we will be able to further develop our technology platform, expand our competencies and enter new markets. Our goal is to revolutionize the industry with sustainable and highly efficient surface solutions. We are also looking to strengthen our team in order to implement this growth strategy.”
Since its operational start at the end of 2021, SurFunction GmbH has established itself as a pioneer and technology leader in the development and application of DLIP technology. Through close cooperation with leading industrial partners and scientific institutions such as Saarland University and TU Dresden, the company has continuously set new standards in surface functionalization.
With ELIPSYS®, the latest patented generation of DLIP technology, SurFunction offers numerous advantages, including up to 1000 times faster processing and the ability to economically produce complex surface structures on an industrial scale. This opens up a wide range of applications, from antibacterial and non-stick surfaces to low-friction and highly conductive structures inspired by nature.
Ralf Zastrau, co-founder and co-managing director of SurFunction, adds: “With our new financing structure, we are able to strengthen our market position and expand our innovation leadership. With Capnamic, we are pleased to have gained a high-profile lead investor with international appeal for our dynamic growth.”
Capnamic will not only provide financial support for the further development of SurFunction, but will also contribute extensive expertise in scaling and internationalizing technology companies. This experience in building high-tech companies will help SurFunction successfully navigate the next phase of its business and establish DLIP technology globally.
“We are excited about the possibilities that SurFunction’s technology offers,” says Capnamic’s Niklas Raberg. “The potential to redesign surfaces while directly leveraging nature’s expertise offers opportunities to transform entire industries. We look forward to actively supporting SurFunction on their journey and together setting new standards in surface solutions.”
About SurFunction
SurFunction GmbH, headquartered in Saarbrücken, Germany, is a leading system provider for non-contact surface modification. The company uses award-winning and patented laser-based processes to create cost-effective and sustainable surface structures in record time. These structures are based on models from nature and offer new properties such as friction reduction, anti-adhesion, antibacterial effect, energy efficiency and more. SurFunction supports its customers with complete system solutions and highly functional interfaces to improve products and processes and contribute to resource conservation.
About Capnamic
Capnamic is a leading European early stage venture capital firm with offices in Cologne, Berlin and Munich. The VC invests in outstanding teams from German-speaking countries from pre-seed to Series A. Capnamic’s investments include companies such as LeanIX (exit to SAP), Staffbase, Adjust (exit to Applovin), parcelLab and Capmo. All portfolio companies can rely on Capnamic’s unique network of global investors and industry partners as well as hands-on support, mentoring and knowledge sharing. The Capnamic team has extensive experience with more than 100 investments, a high number of successful trade sales and IPOs and a strong entrepreneurial track record within the investment team.
We exhibit:
– Connector User Congress, June 3 to 5, 2024 (Würzburg)
– Surface Technology, June 3 to 6, 2024 (Messe Stuttgart, H1/28)
– EPHJ World of high Precision, Jun,e 11 to 14 2024 (PALEXPO Genf, C128)
– MedtecLIVE, June 18 to 20, 2024 (Messe Stuttgart)
If you have any questions or would like to receive images, please contact:
Nadja Schorr
SurFunction GmbH
Phone: +49/(0)681-30270540
info@surfunction.com
SurFunction GmbH
Campus A1.1
D-66123 Saarbrücken
www.surfunction.com
The background of DLIP and ELIPSYS®:
Decades of research have shown that surface structures play a decisive role in the performance of almost all technical components. Nature itself offers fascinating examples of the efficiency of surface structures: the non-stick properties of the lotus plant or the iridescent color effects on butterfly wings are only possible through complex micro- and nanostructures. However, replicating these natural phenomena on an industrial scale has been challenging due to a lack of technology that would enable economical production on an industrial scale.
The solution to this challenge has been made possible by groundbreaking research over the past few decades and the invention of “Direct Laser Interference Patterning” (DLIP). This technology has laid the foundation for revolutionizing the way we manipulate surfaces at the microscopic level. It uses the principle of interference, which is analogous to the interaction of colliding water waves. This analogy can be applied to light rays that are split and then superimposed in such a way that they interfere with the surface of the material. The result is precise, fine structures previously only found in nature.
The consistent further development of DLIP technology by SurFunction GmbH has now opened the door to industrial applications. For example, ELIPSYS® (Extended Laser Interference Patterning System), the latest generation of DLIP technology, enables the extremely fast and cost-effective generation of complex surface structures that improve the properties of a wide range of products (e.g. non-stick, antibacterial, energy-efficient, low-friction, electrically highly conductive or forgery-proof). DLIP and ELIPSYS® mark a turning point in the production and functionalization of material surfaces for a wide range of industries.