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§ Venture Capital · New York City, NY, USA
Material Impact operates as a venture capital firm specializing in backing and building inception-stage companies that leverage advancements in material science. The firm focuses on deep technology innovations to create tangible products designed to solve pressing real-world challenges. Their investment approach targets industries where novel materials can drive significant impact and progress, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and commercial viability.
The firm was co-founded by Carmichael Roberts, PhD, and Adam Sharkawy, PhD, combining their extensive experience in materials investing and corporate innovation, respectively. After two decades of collaborating on various ventures, they established Material Impact around 2017, driven by the shared conviction that material science underpins the most significant technological leaps and is essential for addressing critical societal needs. Their complementary backgrounds informed a strategy focused on hands-on company building.
Material Impact partners with entrepreneurs and scientific founders developing breakthrough material technologies. The firm's vision centers on empowering these innovators to transform their ideas into high-impact and valuable companies, ultimately aiming to foster a new generation of products that secure a more sustainable future for humanity. They seek to discover and cultivate innovations that promise to profoundly change the world through material-centric solutions.
Key people at Material Impact.
Material Impact was founded in 2015 by Adam Sharkawy (Co-Founder & Managing Partner) and Carmichael Roberts (Founder and Managing Partner).
Material Impact is a Boston-based venture capital firm specializing in deep tech investments centered on materials science innovations. Its mission is to back and build inception-stage companies that leverage novel materials and technologies to address urgent human needs and create a sustainable future. The firm targets sectors such as healthcare, sustainability, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, aiming to develop transformative products that solve real-world problems. Material Impact differentiates itself by not only investing capital but also actively incubating and supporting startups through technical development, business strategy, and commercialization, fostering long-term success and meaningful impact in the startup ecosystem[1][2][6].
Founded in 2015, Material Impact was co-founded by Dr. Adam Sharkawy and Dr. Carmichael Roberts, among others, who bring scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to the firm. The idea emerged from recognizing the critical role of materials science at the intersection of digital and physical innovation, which can drive major industrial and societal change. Early traction came from building a portfolio of companies pioneering first-of-their-kind innovations with a hands-on approach, emphasizing loyalty, bravery, originality, empathy, inclusivity, and responsibility as core values[1][2][5].
Material Impact rides the growing trend of deep tech and materials science as foundational drivers of innovation across multiple industries. The timing is critical as global challenges like climate change, healthcare demands, and manufacturing efficiency require novel material solutions. Market forces favor firms that can translate scientific breakthroughs into scalable products, and Material Impact’s approach of building companies from inception positions it as a key enabler in this ecosystem. Its influence extends beyond capital provision to shaping the future of sustainable and advanced technologies[1][2][6].
Looking ahead, Material Impact is poised to continue expanding its portfolio of pioneering deep tech startups, leveraging its unique blend of scientific expertise and operational support. Trends such as sustainability, clean energy transition, and advanced manufacturing will shape its investment focus. As materials science innovations become increasingly critical to solving global challenges, Material Impact’s role as a builder and backer of transformative companies will likely deepen, enhancing its influence in both the venture capital and technology landscapes[1][2][6].
Key people at Material Impact.
Material Impact was founded in 2015 by Adam Sharkawy (Co-Founder & Managing Partner) and Carmichael Roberts (Founder and Managing Partner).
