New Whitepaper: Why the Chemical Industry deserves your attention
The chemical industry is one of the largest and most impactful sectors of the global economy, with a market size exceeding USD 5.6 trillion. In Germany, it ranks among the top three revenue-generating industries and is home to world-leading corporations, including BASF, Bayer, and Evonik. At the same time, the sector is under considerable pressure, with high energy and labor costs, increasingly strict sustainability regulations, and growing competition from regions such as Asia and the Middle East creating existential challenges for many European players.
But within this disruption lies a significant opportunity. For founders, the chemical sector presents a rare chance to drive deep, systemic innovation in one of the economy’s core infrastructures. For investors, it provides access to a market undergoing rapid transformation – one that is eager for new materials, circular processes, and sustainable technologies.
Our white paper, “Fuelling Future Innovation: Venture Capital in the Chemical Industry,” argues that now is the time to seriously consider the sector from both a startup and investment perspective.
A detailed examination of the chemical industry and its transformation
What holds the whitepaper for you? Firstly, it provides a detailed examination of the chemical industry, highlighting the critical role that venture capital and entrepreneurship play in this sector.
Of course, it sheds light on the crucial question of why now is a unique moment for innovation and investment, examining the global shift in production power, Europe’s structural disadvantages, and the urgent need for sustainable transformation.
In this context, the paper also examines the evolving landscape of venture capital It documents a growing pipeline of chemical startups in Europe and the DACH region, provides insight into recent major funding rounds, and analyzes potential exit paths via trade sales, initial public offerings (IPOs). Real-world examples, such as Ineratec, Traceless Materials, and IonKraft, illustrate how high-potential ventures can grow within the sector.
The whitepaper also provides a clear overview of four key innovation areas: green chemistry and sustainable materials, circular processes and recycling technologies, digitalization and AI-driven design, and the transition to green energy in industrial chemical production. You can find the Airtable with a WIP extract of companies in these sectors here. Please add any company we may have not mentioned via this form.
About the Authors
The white paper was authored by Jana Petry, Lukas Götz, and Carl Kuzinski of UVC Partners, with the assistance of many other team members.
Jana Petry brings deep expertise in early-stage venture capital, climate tech, and digital sustainability models. Carl Kuzinski brings a strong background in chemical engineering and deep experience in tech ventures, while Lukas Götz adds insights from working across data-driven startups and impact-driven entrepreneurship.
Together, the author team combines technical depth, market expertise, and investment experience, making this whitepaper a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and engage with the future of the chemical industry.
You can download the whitepaper now to explore how startups and investors can shape the next chapter of chemical innovation in Europe.
About UVC Partners
UVC Partners is a leading venture capital firm that invests in European B2B tech startups and has offices in Munich and Berlin. With more than €600 million in assets under management, the VC typically invests between €1 to €10 million initially and up to €30 million per startup in the areas of DeepTech, ClimateTech, Mobility, and Software/AI. As an independent partner of UnternehmerTUM, Europe's leading startup hub, UVC Partners has unique access to proprietary deal flow, more than 1,000 corporates and SMEs, as well as to talents from the Technical University of Munich, which belongs to the best European technical universities. UVC Partners' investment portfolio includes Flix, Isar Aerospace, planqc, Proxima Fusion, Reverion, Tacto, TWAICE, DeepDrive, STABL, and many more. All portfolio companies and founders benefit from the team's extensive investment and exit experience, their ability to build sustainable category leaders, and the network of UnternehmerTUM enabling them to speed up market entry.
Learn more at www.uvcpartners.com.
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