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§ Private Profile · Bethesda, MD, USA
Liatris is a technology company.
Liatris, Inc. develops and manufactures advanced insulation materials, offering high-performance solutions across fiberglass, mineral wool, and foam categories. The company's core product strategy focuses on creating insulation that is both effective in managing thermal energy and easy to install, thereby providing rapid and clean energy savings for various applications. Liatris aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact through its innovative material science.
The company was founded in 2018 by Arthur Yang and Frank Yang. Arthur Yang's extensive background in insulation technology, highlighted by a government grant for aerogel in 1992, provided the foundational expertise and insight that led to the establishment of Liatris. This deep-rooted understanding of material science and thermal management underpins the company's approach to product development.
Liatris serves a diverse customer base, including individual consumers and businesses, notably partnering with leading modular construction and wall panel firms. The company's overarching vision is to improve lives by making them more affordable, comfortable, and safe through superior thermal energy management. Liatris continues to innovate, working towards a future where optimal insulation is accessible and beneficial for all.
Liatris has raised $2.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Liatris has raised $2.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Liatris is a startup developing advanced thermal insulation materials that deliver high-performance energy savings for buildings, targeting businesses and consumers to make life more affordable, comfortable, and safe.[1][2] The company produces lightweight, easy-to-install composites that are non-flammable, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and dust-free, serving as drop-in replacements for materials like EPS/XPS with superior R-values (e.g., aiming for R-10/inch).[1][3] It addresses under-insulation in ~90% of U.S. buildings by offering resilient, waterproof insulation at competitive costs, with recent facility expansions enabling first commercial products in 2026 and projected $20M economic impact over three years.[2][3]
Growth momentum includes a new 4,000 sq ft pilot manufacturing facility in Rockville, MD (opened 2025), supported by $1M in Maryland state grants, creating 15 direct jobs and over 100 indirect ones.[2][4][5] Led by insulation experts, Liatris is scaling via partnerships and DOE-funded R&D for inorganic nanocomposites like clay-cellulose-silica.[3]
Liatris emerged from the expertise of founders Frank Yang (President/CEO, MBA from Harvard, BA from Amherst) and Dr. Yang (likely a key technical lead), both with deep insulation and materials backgrounds.[1] Frank previously raised $400M+ at prior ventures, including Pixtronix (sold to Qualcomm for $150M), Nantero (sold to Lockheed Martin), ISTN, and Lehman Brothers.[1] Dr. Yang led $20M+ in DOE/NIST/NIH-funded projects at ISTN and headed insulation R&D at Armstrong Insulation (spun into Armacell, a global foams leader).[1]
The idea stemmed from market gaps: aging U.S. buildings (avg. 39 years old), installation challenges with fiberglass/mineral wool, and high costs/embodied carbon in premium insulators.[3] Early traction involved leasing a 5,000 sq ft lab, self-funding equipment despite COVID delays, and securing DOE peer-reviewed funding for super-insulation prototypes.[3] Pivotal moments include the 2025 Rockville facility expansion with state grants, marking the shift to commercial production.[2][4]
Liatris rides the cleantech wave of building decarbonization and energy efficiency, amplified by U.S. incentives like IRA tax credits and rising fire-safety regs amid climate risks.[3] Timing aligns with 90% under-insulated stock and net-zero mandates, where insulation upgrades yield fastest ROI vs. electrification.[3] Market forces favor it: supply chain resilience via U.S. manufacturing, state support (e.g., Maryland grants), and partnerships with incumbents like XPS producers for low-cost scaling.[2][3][5]
It influences the ecosystem by supplementing mineral wool in walls (initial R-4/inch product), enabling mass-market super-insulation to cut energy use 20-50% in retrofits/new builds, and fostering jobs in advanced materials.[2][3]
Liatris is poised for breakout with 2026 commercial launch from its Rockville facility, targeting exterior walls then broader applications via incumbent partnerships.[2][3] Trends like embodied carbon regs, off-site construction, and DOE scale-up will accelerate growth, potentially mirroring Armacell-like expansion.[1][3] Influence may evolve from niche innovator to mass producer, transforming insulation affordability and driving $20M+ regional impact—reinforcing its mission to deliver the cleanest, fastest energy savings.[2]
Liatris has raised $2.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Liatris's investors include National Science Foundation, Claire Broido Johnson, John Schveibinz, Acario, Propel(x).
Liatris has raised $2.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Liatris, Inc - Grant in March 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 2022 | $1M Grant | National Science Foundation | — | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2021 | $1M Seed | Claire Broido Johnson, John Schveibinz | Acario, Propel(x) | Announced |