Based in Santa Clara, California, Applied Ventures, LLC serves as the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Inc., investing in startups that shape deep technology across materials, semiconductors, robotics, life sciences, AR/VR, cleantech, big data and advanced manufacturing. Over the past decade, the firm has backed more than 90 companies in 19 countries across North America, Europe and Asia, allocating up to $100 million annually. The stage-agnostic model spans seed through growth rounds, and each investment benefits from access to Applied Materials’ nanomanufacturing expertise and global fabrication infrastructure, enabling startups to refine prototypes and accelerate production.
Applied Ventures seeks startups whose innovations align with or extend Applied Materials’ core strengths in semiconductor processing and materials engineering. Beyond capital, the team offers access to a global network of suppliers, co-investors and customers, as well as opportunities for joint development projects. Investment criteria span emerging areas including display technologies, high-performance computing, autonomous vehicle systems and software for fab automation. Decisions are guided by technical viability and market potential, ensuring each startup benefits from Applied Materials’ engineering teams and sales channels.
The firm has a strong record in clean technology and battery applications. Notable investments include Ionblox, a developer of lithium-ion cells featuring pre-lithiated silicon anodes that deliver up to 50% more energy density, five times greater power and ten-minute fast charging—ideal for electric aircraft and grid storage prototypes. An earlier investment in ClearEdge Power supported development of silicon-based stationary fuel cells for backup and continuous power. These moves reflect Applied Ventures’ interest in sustainable energy solutions that leverage its technical and market capabilities.
