Nanotech Venture Capital Fund of the Hebrew University, known as the Racah Nano Venture Fund, was launched in 2019 by Yissum, the Hebrew University’s technology transfer arm. The fund’s mission is to nurture selected nanotechnologies born in university labs, transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions that address global challenges.
With an initial capitalization of $6 million and a target of $9 million, the fund attracts institutional investors. It holds exclusive rights to evaluate and invest in inventions from Hebrew University labs. Projects are selected for their potential to bridge research and market, focusing on smart materials, nanoscale devices, additive manufacturing, quantum science and renewable energy.
Early investments highlight the fund’s range: a metal-free display for solar cells, next-generation perovskite photovoltaic thin films, eco-friendly microencapsulation to eliminate microplastics, and 3D-printed polymers for personal safety and impact resistance. Development of open-structure seawater batteries explores cost-effective, safe large-scale energy storage, while quantum dot platforms advance soft robotic sensing and automotive coatings.
Other portfolio projects include microalgae-based soil rehabilitation and ground cooling using nanocellulose and quantum dots, ceramic structures fabricated through solution-based 3D printing, single-cell detection methods to monitor algal farms, peptide-based antifreeze coatings for crops and aircraft, silica-MOF systems for microplastic reduction and pollutant removal, and novel antioxidants that stabilize emulsions in food.
Although the fund has not publicly named battery-focused startups, its work in energy materials and storage research suggests openness to innovative battery technologies built on nanoscale principles. The fund’s clean energy investments and material science expertise lay a strong foundation for future backing of energy storage solutions.
