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HZO is a technology company.
HZO specializes in protective nano and conformal coatings designed to safeguard electronics from harsh environments, offering high-reliability solutions for various devices. The company delivers advanced thin film coating services, emphasizing scalability and cost reduction while ensuring mission-critical reliability for electronic components across numerous applications. Its proprietary processes enhance the durability of sensitive electronics against moisture, liquids, and other environmental stressors.
Scott Gordon founded HZO, establishing a company focused on addressing the vulnerability of electronics to environmental damage. While the specific founding year and precise initial insight are not fully detailed, the genesis of HZO clearly stemmed from the need for robust protective solutions for increasingly ubiquitous electronic devices. The company emerged to provide advanced material applications that extend device lifespan and functionality for a global market.
HZO serves industries and manufacturers whose products require unwavering performance in challenging conditions, where electronic failure is not an option. The company's vision centers on enabling a world where electronics can operate reliably regardless of their environment, developing and deploying adaptable protective technologies globally to enhance the durability and longevity of electronic products. It continues to expand its offerings to meet evolving industry demands for protected devices.
HZO has raised $107.0M across 5 funding rounds.
HZO has raised $107.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
HZO is a technology company specializing in thin film protective coatings, primarily parylene-based, applied directly to electronic circuitry to shield devices from water, corrosion, humidity, dust, and other environmental hazards.[1][3][4] It serves manufacturers across industries like aerospace, defense, automotive, medical devices, consumer electronics, energy, and lithium-ion batteries, solving the problem of premature component failure in harsh conditions by offering scalable, turnkey solutions that enable reliable, waterproof products without mechanical seals.[2][3][4] With global facilities in Raleigh (HQ), Shenzhen, Vietnam, and others, HZO has coated millions of parts, achieving zero returns due to coating issues and supporting high-volume production for partners like Rakuten Kobo and Samsung's Prismview.[3][4]
The company's growth stems from its cost-effective, high-throughput processes, with proprietary equipment enabling up to 2x faster parylene deposition than competitors, driving revenue surges like over 90% in 2013 and ongoing expansion.[1][4]
HZO was established in 2009 in Utah as a nanotechnology firm focused on electronics protection, initially funded by equity and debt.[1] It publicly unveiled its coating technology at CES 2012, marking early traction in medical, military, automotive, and consumer markets, including Tag Heuer smartphones and wearables.[1][2] By 2013-2014, HZO expanded globally with offices in China, Japan, California, and Asian application partners, while enhancing proprietary equipment for mass manufacturing.[1]
A video from around 2011 highlights operational roots in waterproofing for e-readers, phones, IoT, and more, evolving into a leader with Centers of Excellence in Shenzhen and Vietnam.[1][2] Key pivots included tailoring IPX8-level protection and scaling for millions of devices annually.[2]
HZO rides the wave of electronics reliability demands in an era of IoT proliferation, wearables, EVs, renewable energy, and harsh-environment tech like aerospace and medical implants.[2][4] Timing aligns with rising failure risks from miniaturization, flexible electronics, and climate-driven exposure, where traditional seals fall short—HZO's internal coatings make waterproofing standard and scalable.[1][2][5]
Market forces favoring HZO include regulatory pushes for biocompatibility (REACH/RoHS) and sustainability (VOC-free), plus growth in lithium-ion batteries and consumer goods needing submersion-proofing.[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by enabling manufacturers to innovate boldly, reducing returns and extending device lifespans, as seen in partnerships accelerating adoption in high-stakes sectors.[3]
HZO is poised to expand as parylene and thin films become essential for next-gen electronics, with trends like AI-driven IoT, 5G wearables, and extreme-environment EVs amplifying demand for its scalable protection.[2][4][5] Expect deeper penetration in energy storage and defense, leveraging proprietary IP for in-house deposition tools and custom chemistries.[4][5]
Its influence may evolve toward standardizing internal coatings industry-wide, potentially through more factory-in-factory models and webinars educating on integration—turning reliability from a feature into an expectation, much like HZO transformed wearables from novelty to norm.[1][3]
HZO has raised $107.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
HZO's investors include Cathay Bank, Space Capital, Li Ka-shing, Douglas W. Jamison, Pike Capital Partners, Prudence Holdings, Robert G. Pedersen II.
HZO has raised $107.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Debt in April 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2019 | $30.0M Debt | Cathay Bank | |
| Apr 1, 2019 | $47.0M Series D | Space Capital | |
| Jun 1, 2014 | $20.0M Series B | Space Capital | |
| Jan 10, 2012 | $3.0M Other Equity | Li Ka-shing | |
| Aug 16, 2011 | $7.0M Series B | Douglas W. Jamison, Pike Capital Partners, Prudence Holdings, Robert G. Pedersen II |