Copernic Catalysts
Copernic Catalysts is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based climate-tech startup that uses DFT, machine learning, and AI to design heterogeneous catalysts for zero-carbon ammonia and other commodity chemicals, with a flagship drop-in Neptune ammonia catalyst co-developed with Schrödinger.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Copernic Catalysts does
Copernic Catalysts is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based private company founded around 2021 that designs and develops heterogeneous catalysts for zero-carbon chemicals and e-fuels, with an initial focus on ammonia synthesis. The company's flagship product, the Neptune Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst, is positioned as a drop-in replacement compatible with existing industrial infrastructure and is reported to deliver over twice the ammonia yield of incumbent catalysts, with the long-term potential to offset up to 1.5 gigatons of CO2 annually (approximately 4% of global emissions) if scaled. A second catalyst for ethylene oxide is in co-development with Schrödinger. The underlying technology is a computational catalyst design platform that combines Density Functional Theory (DFT) physics-based simulations with machine learning and artificial intelligence to model and screen catalyst candidates at the atomic scale, materially compressing the traditional experimental catalyst discovery cycle.
The company's go-to-market is a direct enterprise motion targeting large ammonia producers, fertilizer manufacturers, and maritime e-fuels buyers; the drop-in product positioning is intended to minimize adoption friction for incumbents. Pilot demonstrations of Neptune are scheduled for 2026/27, and pricing has not been publicly disclosed. As of the most recent reporting, Copernic has no named paying customers and remains pre-revenue.
Copernic is led by co-founders Jacob Grose (CEO; PhD in physics from Cornell University, previously Investment Manager at BASF Venture Capital heading the Boston office) and Aruna Ramkrishnan (CTO; B.Tech from IIT Bombay and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, previously in technical leadership at Linde and ExxonMobil, and author of fifteen patents in sustainable materials and processes). The company has raised approximately $10 million in equity across two seed-stage rounds ($2M in August 2021 co-led by Future Ventures and The Engine; an oversubscribed $8M Series Seed Prime in November 2024 led by Breakout Ventures) and was awarded an ARPA-E OPEN 2021 grant. Its four-year exclusive strategic partnership with Schrödinger (announced October 2023) provides access to industrial-grade computational chemistry infrastructure and is the foundation for the Neptune and ethylene oxide catalyst programs.
Copernic Catalysts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Copernic Catalysts
- Legal name
- Copernic Catalysts
- Website
- https://coperniccatalysts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Copernic Catalysts is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based climate-tech startup that uses DFT, machine learning, and AI to design heterogeneous catalysts for zero-carbon ammonia and other commodity chemicals, with a flagship drop-in Neptune ammonia catalyst co-developed with Schrödinger.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Copernic Catalysts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Catalysts
- NAICS
- All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (32599), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base) (IMAEAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts (IMAEAIAB), Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC)
Keywords
Where Copernic Catalysts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Copernic Catalysts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Copernic Catalysts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Copernic Catalysts designs and develops novel heterogeneous catalysts for zero-carbon chemicals and e-fuels, with an initial focus on ammonia synthesis catalysts for fertilizer and maritime shipping applications. The company leverages a computational platform combining Density Functional Theory (DFT), machine learning, and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and optimization of catalyst materials at the atomic scale. Its flagship offering, the Neptune Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst, is positioned as a drop-in replacement that delivers over twice the ammonia yield of existing catalysts.
Product overview
Copernic Catalysts is developing a portfolio of novel catalysts for zero-carbon chemicals and e-fuels. The company offers two main products: the Neptune Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst (a drop-in solution with over 2x the yield of existing catalysts) and an ethylene oxide catalyst in development. The technology platform leverages DFT, ML, and AI to radically improve heterogeneous catalyst design for the chemical industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Neptune Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst Drop-in heterogeneous catalyst for ammonia synthesis demonstrating over twice the ammonia yield of existing catalysts, designed to reduce both cost and carbon footprint of ammonia production for fertilizer and e-fuel applications.
- Ethylene Oxide Catalyst Catalyst in development with Schrödinger to enable more efficient ethylene oxide production, aimed at improving chemical-manufacturing sustainability.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2x ammonia yield compared to existing catalysts
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Copernic Catalysts
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Copernic Catalysts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Copernic Catalysts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SchrödingercoreFour-year exclusive strategic partnership to transform catalyst innovation, beginning with ammonia. Jointly developed Neptune ammonia synthesis catalyst demonstrating over 2x ammonia yield vs existing catalysts. Companies are also collaborating on developing more efficient ethylene oxide catalyst.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Copernic Catalysts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Topsoe: Topsoe is the dominant incumbent in ammonia synthesis catalysts and Haber-Bosch process technology. Directly competes with Copernic's Neptune catalyst in serving ammonia producers seeking efficiency and decarbonization improvements.
- Casale: Casale is a Swiss ammonia and methanol process licensor with proprietary catalyst offerings. Direct peer competing for the same ammonia plant upgrade and decarbonization projects.
Broad incumbents
- BASF: BASF is one of the world's largest chemical companies with a broad heterogeneous catalyst portfolio serving ammonia, petrochemicals, and emissions control. CEO Jacob Grose previously led BASF Venture Capital's Boston office, giving Copernic unique familiarity with BASF's portfolio.
- Clariant: Clariant's Catalysts business unit supplies ammonia, hydrogen, and petrochemical catalysts globally. A broad incumbent with overlapping customer base in fertilizer producers and chemical manufacturers seeking process intensification.
- Honeywell UOP: Honeywell UOP licenses process technologies and catalysts across refining, petrochemicals, and hydrogen/ammonia. A broad incumbent serving similar end-customers with integrated process + catalyst offerings.
- Johnson Matthey: Johnson Matthey is a leading PGM-based catalyst manufacturer with strong positions in ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen processes. Comparable as a precious metals catalyst incumbent targeting similar industrial decarbonization outcomes.
- KBR: KBR licenses the K-GreeN and other ammonia process technologies globally. A broad incumbent controlling plant-level process design that interfaces with catalyst selection, making it a comparable (and potential partner) for next-gen ammonia producers.
Others
- Schrödinger: Schrödinger is Copernic's exclusive strategic computational chemistry partner, co-developing the Neptune and ethylene oxide catalysts. Adjacent enabler—provides the DFT/ML platform underpinning Copernic's catalyst design pipeline and shares in the joint IP.
Emerging players
- C-Zero: C-Zero is developing clean hydrogen and zero-carbon natural gas via novel catalyst technology. Emerging player addressing adjacent industrial decarbonization wedges that could converge with ammonia/hydrogen value chains.
- Starfire Energy: Starfire Energy is a clean ammonia startup developing distributed ammonia production from renewable energy. Emerging peer targeting the same zero-carbon ammonia end-market with a different production architecture.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Copernic Catalysts social profiles
Digital presenceCopernic Catalysts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Copernic Catalysts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Copernic Catalysts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Copernic Catalysts 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 Copernic Catalysts
What does Copernic Catalysts do?
Copernic Catalysts designs and develops novel heterogeneous catalysts for zero-carbon chemicals and e-fuels, with an initial focus on ammonia synthesis catalysts for fertilizer and maritime shipping applications. The company leverages a computational platform combining Density Functional Theory (DFT), machine learning, and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and optimization of catalyst materials at the atomic scale. Its flagship offering, the Neptune Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst, is positioned as a drop-in replacement that delivers over twice the ammonia yield of existing catalysts.
Is Copernic Catalysts a public or private company?
Copernic Catalysts is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Copernic Catalysts founded?
Copernic Catalysts was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Copernic Catalysts based?
Copernic Catalysts is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Copernic Catalysts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Topsoe and Casale. Broad incumbents are BASF, Clariant, Honeywell UOP, Johnson Matthey and KBR. Schrödinger is listed as an others. Emerging players are C-Zero and Starfire Energy.
Does Copernic Catalysts have an API?
No public API is recorded for Copernic Catalysts.
What industry is Copernic Catalysts in?
Copernic Catalysts's product category is Industrial Catalysts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAIAD, Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base), with a secondary code of IMAEAIAB, Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts. Its NAICS code is 32599 and its SIC code is 2890.