UP Catalyst
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersTallinn, Estonia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
UP Catalyst firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UP Catalyst
- Legal name
- UP Catalyst OÜ
- Website
- https://upcatalyst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UP Catalyst industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Carbon Nanomaterials
- NAICS
- Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing (335991)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon‑Based Carbon Materials (graphite, carbon black, CNTs, graphene from CO₂/CO) (EUABAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite) (IMAEAFAO), Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA), Cathode Active Materials (CAM) Manufacturing (EUAFABAB), Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI)
Keywords
Where UP Catalyst is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tallinn
- HQ country
- Estonia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
UP Catalyst business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Carbon Materials Sales: UP Catalyst generates revenue through the sale of carbon nanomaterials (MWCNTs, carbon black) and battery-grade graphite produced from captured CO2 emissions. The company sells materials directly to manufacturers in batteries, paints/coatings, polymers, and concrete industries.
- R&D and Testing Services: UP Catalyst offers tailored R&D services to companies evaluating CO2 conversion into carbon materials, including lab testing, physiochemical analysis, and battery cell testing (Li-ion, LFP, Na-ion coin cells).
- Technology Licensing: The company is exploring licensing their CO2 utilization technology to create new revenue streams, validated through Business Grant project to identify the most profitable business model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing for enterprise customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
UP Catalyst product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UP Catalyst manufactures and sells sustainable carbon nanomaterials and graphite produced from industrial CO2 emissions using its proprietary Molten Salt Carbon Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET) technology. The company's Catasol product portfolio includes Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), Carbon Black, Hard Carbon for sodium-ion batteries, Battery-Grade Graphite, and Flake Graphite, sold primarily to battery cell manufacturers, paints and coatings producers, and composite materials companies in Europe.
Product overview
UP Catalyst is a deep-tech company that produces sustainable carbon nanomaterials and graphite directly from captured CO₂ emissions using its proprietary Molten Salt Carbon Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET) technology. The product portfolio centers on the Catasol product line, which includes: Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (Catasol 100 series - A100 powder and F100 dispersion) for conductive additives in batteries and composites; Carbon Black (Catasol 300 series - A300) for pigments, coatings, and adhesives; Hard Carbon (Catasol 400 series - A400 powder and F400 dispersion) derived from lignin biomass for sodium-ion batteries; and Graphite (Catasol 600 series - A610 battery-grade and A650 flake) for EV batteries and energy storage. All products are marketed under the Catasol brand with product codes indicating form (A=powder, F=dispersion) and series (100=MWCNT, 300=Carbon Black, 400=Hard Carbon, 600=Graphite).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catasol A100 (MWCNT Powder) Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) powder produced from CO2 emissions using molten salt electrolysis. Adding less than 1% w/w enhances mechanical and conductive properties of materials significantly. Used as conductive additive for batteries and reinforcement for composites.
- Catasol F100 (MWCNT Dispersion) H2O-based dispersion with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes available up to 4% w/w, stable for shipping and storage. Variable MWCNT dimensions: length 2-10 micrometers, diameter 20-70 nm. Used for easy integration into water-based formulations.
- Catasol A300 (Carbon Black) High-purity carbon black powder produced from CO2 with low toxicity and environmental safety while preserving enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of conventional carbon black. Used as sustainable pigment and functional additive in paints, coatings, and adhesives.
- Catasol A400 (Hard Carbon) Non-graphitizable carbon powder derived from biomass waste (lignin) with high initial coulombic efficiency greater than 88%, D50 particle size 3-5 micrometers, D90 particle size 10 micrometers, and superior rate capability for sodium-ion battery anodes.
- Catasol F400 (Hard Carbon Dispersion) Water-based dispersion of hard carbon derived from lignin biomass waste for energy storage applications including sodium-ion batteries.
- Catasol A610 (Battery-Grade Graphite) Battery-grade spheroidised and carbon-coated graphite produced from CO2 with greater than 99.95% purity, first discharge capacity greater than 360 mAh/g, and initial coulombic efficiency greater than 90%. Designed for lithium-ion battery anodes for EV batteries and energy storage.
- Catasol A650 (Flake Graphite) Flake graphite made from CO2 emissions with adjustable particle size based on customer specifications and greater than 99% purity. Used for industrial applications requiring high-purity graphite.
- R&D and Testing Services Custom R&D and testing services for companies evaluating CO2 conversion into carbon materials. Includes lab testing, physiochemical analysis, and battery cell testing (Li-ion, LFP, Na-ion coin cells) conducted at UP Catalyst's in-house product testing and validation facility opened in 2024 in Tallinn.
- CO2 Utilization Technology Licensing Licensing of UP Catalyst's proprietary MSCC-ET CO2-to-carbon-materials technology for deployment at industrial partner sites worldwide, enabling localized production near CO2 emitters. Validated through Business Grant project to identify the most profitable business model for technology licensing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 600x lower carbon footprint than conventional graphite (0.07 vs 25+ kg CO2-eq/kg)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use UP Catalyst
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UP Catalyst technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
UP Catalyst partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Oulun EnergiacoreFinnish energy company (one of Finland's largest) signed Letter of Intent with UP Catalyst to explore establishing large-scale battery-grade graphite and CNT production facility in Oulu, Finland. Oulun Energia will provide CO2 supply and infrastructure from their facilities in Oulu Industrial Park. Target: 20,000 tonnes annually, operations by 2031.
- SGC EnergycoreSouth Korean energy and industrial conglomerate partnership to commercialize CO2-to-carbon materials technology in Korea. SGC operates Korea's first and largest private-sector industrial-scale CCU facility at Gunsan, capturing 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Will establish demonstration unit before exploring commercial-scale facility.
- TeknosmajorGlobal coatings company signed MoU with UP Catalyst to develop and commercialize sustainable alternatives to fossil-based carbon black for powder coatings and wet paints. Collaboration covers material testing, development, production and supply.
- MUSIC Project ConsortiumsupportingMaterials for Sustainable Sodium-Ion Capacitors project funded by The Battery Show Europe 2025. UP Catalyst's hard carbon and CNTs for sodium-ion batteries developed in collaboration with MUSIC consortium partners.
- SafeRock ASsupportingNorwegian partner for Green ICT projects developing CO2-negative concrete using UP Catalyst's carbon nanotubes in geopolymer concrete. Joint projects funded by Norway Grants Green ICT programme totaling €700,860.
- EIT RawMaterials Consortium (CO2Carbon Project)majorEIT RawMaterials-funded consortium including Riga Technical University, RISE, University of Bologna, Univercell Holding, and Bettery for developing scalable shipping container synthesis reactor. Project secured €1.59M funding.
- UPGraphite Project ConsortiummajorEIT RawMaterials-funded project with INM-Leibniz Institute and ElevenEs to design and build up-scaled reactor for graphite production. Includes post-processing optimization and pouch cell testing.
- MoReCCU Project ConsortiumsupportingEIT Manufacturing-funded project with University of Lleida, STUBA, and INEGI to develop molten salt regeneration system reducing waste and enabling up to 95% resource reduction. €800K secured.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
UP Catalyst competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Tokai Carbon: Tokai Carbon is a Japanese established manufacturer of carbon black, graphite electrodes, and fine carbon products serving battery, steel, and industrial markets. Comparable to UP Catalyst as a broad carbon materials incumbent whose product lines overlap with Catasol graphite and carbon black offerings.
- Birla Carbon: Birla Carbon (Aditya Birla Group) is one of the world's largest carbon black manufacturers serving tire, coatings, and plastics end markets. Directly comparable as a carbon black incumbent that UP Catalyst's Catasol A300 product targets to displace on sustainability grounds.
- Cabot Corporation: Cabot Corporation is a US-based specialty chemicals and performance materials company producing carbon blacks, battery materials (LITX conductive carbons), and specialty carbons. Comparable as a broad incumbent in conductive carbon additives for batteries and reinforcing carbons for rubber and coatings.
Direct peers
- C2CNT: C2CNT (part of C2CNT LLC / SkyNano) develops CO2-to-carbon nanotube technology via molten carbonate electrolysis. Direct competitor to UP Catalyst in the CO2-to-MWCNT niche using a closely related molten salt electrochemical approach, though UP Catalyst focuses more heavily on battery-grade graphite.
Emerging players
- Twelve (formerly Opus 12): Twelve is a US-based CO2-to-chemicals startup producing materials like ethylene, propylene, and methane from captured CO2 using electrochemical reactors. Comparable as an emerging player in the broader CO2 utilization space, though Twelve targets gaseous/fuel products rather than solid carbon materials.
- Group14 Technologies: Group14 Technologies is a US-based battery materials company producing silicon-carbon composite anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Comparable as an emerging battery materials startup targeting European and US EV OEMs with advanced, higher-performance alternatives to conventional graphite anodes.
- Econic Technologies: Econic Technologies (UK) develops catalyst technologies to incorporate CO2 into polyols and polyurethanes for polymers and foams. Comparable as a UK/EU-based emerging CO2 utilization company serving materials markets, though focused on polymer chemistry rather than solid carbon production.
- Nouveau Monde Graphite: Nouveau Monde Graphite is a Canadian company developing a fully integrated natural graphite-to-battery anode material operation with a focus on low-carbon production. Comparable as a sustainable battery-grade graphite producer targeting European OEMs and EV battery manufacturers.
- LanzaTech: LanzaTech is a US-based carbon capture and utilization company that ferments industrial off-gases (CO, CO2) into fuels and chemicals including ethanol. Comparable as a peer in the industrial CO2-to-valuable-products space, though LanzaTech focuses on fuels rather than solid carbon materials like UP Catalyst.
Regional players
- Skeleton Technologies: Skeleton Technologies is an Estonia-headquartered ultracapacitor and energy storage company using proprietary curved graphene carbon material. Comparable as an Estonian advanced carbon materials peer focused on energy storage applications, with similar European sustainability-driven customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UP Catalyst social profiles
Digital presenceUP Catalyst compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
UP Catalyst financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UP Catalyst leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
UP Catalyst funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UP Catalyst M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UP Catalyst
What does UP Catalyst do?
UP Catalyst manufactures and sells sustainable carbon nanomaterials and graphite produced from industrial CO2 emissions using its proprietary Molten Salt Carbon Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET) technology. The company's Catasol product portfolio includes Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), Carbon Black, Hard Carbon for sodium-ion batteries, Battery-Grade Graphite, and Flake Graphite, sold primarily to battery cell manufacturers, paints and coatings producers, and composite materials companies in Europe.
Is UP Catalyst a public or private company?
UP Catalyst is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was UP Catalyst founded?
UP Catalyst was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UP Catalyst based?
UP Catalyst is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, in the Europe region.
How does UP Catalyst make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Carbon Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are R&D and Testing Services and technology Licensing.
Who are UP Catalyst's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Tokai Carbon, Birla Carbon and Cabot Corporation. C2CNT is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Twelve (formerly Opus 12), Group14 Technologies, Econic Technologies, Nouveau Monde Graphite and LanzaTech. Skeleton Technologies is listed as a regional player.
Does UP Catalyst have an API?
No public API is recorded for UP Catalyst.
What industry is UP Catalyst in?
UP Catalyst's product category is Carbon Nanomaterials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAIAG, Carbon‑Based Carbon Materials (graphite, carbon black, CNTs, graphene from CO₂/CO), with a secondary code of IMAEAFAO, Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite). Its NAICS code is 335991 and its SIC code is 2860.