What Cynora does

Cynora GmbH was a German specialty materials company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bruchsal, operating at the intersection of organic chemistry and the OLED display supply chain. The company's technical focus was the development of high-efficiency organic emitter materials based on Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF), with secondary work in Circularly Polarized Luminescence (CPL) — chemistries intended to improve the efficiency and color performance of OLED panels used in consumer electronics. Cynora positioned itself as a B2B supplier to OLED display producers, with strategic alignment to global panel manufacturers demonstrated by LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics participating as investors in the 2017 funding round.

The company was funded through three disclosed rounds totaling approximately $61.4M between 2011 and 2019, drawing investors including MIG Capital, KfW, Wecken & Cie., DBOLED, SBI Investment Korea, SRF Partners Group, and the two Korean display incumbents. Despite this capital base and multinational domain presence (cynora.de, cynora.cn, cynora.kr), Cynora never publicly disclosed a commercial product line, pricing model, or revenue figures. The organization operated with 101–250 employees, including a senior leadership team of Adam A. Kablanian (CEO), Michael Bachle (COO), and Thomas Baumann (CSO).

As of the most recent source capture, cynora GmbH has permanently closed its business operations and entered liquidation proceedings, with claims to be directed to [email protected]. No successor entity, asset sale, or technology transfer was disclosed in the available data, indicating a terminal outcome for the venture.

Name

Cynora

Legal name

cynora GmbH

Website

https://cynora.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cynora GmbH was a German specialty materials company developing TADF-based OLED emitter chemistries for global display panel producers. Founded in 2008 in Bruchsal, the firm has permanently closed and entered liquidation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

OLED Emitter Materials

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Display & Optoelectronics Chemicals (OLED/LCD materials, polarizer chemicals) (IMAEAKAN)

Keywords

• OLED emitter materials
• TADF technology
• Organic electronics
• Display materials
• OLED lighting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruchsal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cynora GmbH developed and supplied highly efficient OLED emitter materials based on its proprietary TADF (Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence) technology for OLED display and lighting producers. The company created added value for OLED panel manufacturers by providing advanced organic emitter formulations, including materials for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) applications.

Product overview

Cynora GmbH was a materials science company specializing in organic emitters for OLED applications, including TADF (Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence) and CPL (Circularly Polarized Luminescence) technologies. The company has permanently closed its business operations and is currently in liquidation as of 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TADF OLED Emitter Materials Proprietary Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) emitter materials supplied to OLED panel manufacturers for use in OLED displays and lighting applications. The materials were developed to deliver high-efficiency blue and green emission for next-generation OLED devices.
• CPL (Circularly Polarized Luminescence) Materials Organic emitter materials with circularly polarized luminescence properties developed by cynora, targeting advanced OLED and photonics applications for display and specialty lighting manufacturers.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Universal Display Corporation: Universal Display Corporation (UDC) is the dominant supplier of phosphorescent OLED emitter materials and the primary direct competitor to Cynora's TADF technology. Both companies develop and license emitter IP to OLED panel manufacturers including Samsung and LG, making them the closest head-to-head rival in commercial OLED materials.
• Kyulux: Kyulux is a Japanese startup developing TADF and hyperfluorescent OLED emitter materials — the same technology family as Cynora. Both pursued next-generation emitters to challenge phosphorescent incumbents and served similar OLED display customers in Korea and Japan.

Broad incumbents

• Merck KGaA: Merck KGaA operates a large Performance Materials division supplying OLED materials (including emitters, hosts, and transport materials) to display makers. As a broad specialty chemicals incumbent, Merck is both a competitor to and potential partner/acquirer of OLED emitter specialists like Cynora.
• Idemitsu Kosan: Idemitsu Kosan is a major Japanese chemical company producing OLED materials including emitters and hosts, with long-standing supply relationships to Samsung Display and LG Display. Comparable to Cynora as a supplier of OLED stack materials into the same customer base.
• Sumitomo Chemical: Sumitomo Chemical is a Japanese chemical conglomerate with a substantial OLED materials business supplying polymer and small-molecule emitter systems. Comparable to Cynora as a diversified OLED materials supplier targeting display OEMs in Korea and Japan.
• LG Chem: LG Chem is a Korean chemical/materials arm of LG Group with OLED materials capabilities, vertically integrated with LG Display (one of Cynora's strategic investors and potential customers). Comparable as both a competitor and a related-party supplier in the OLED materials ecosystem.
• Samsung SDI (and Samsung's OLED materials affiliates): Samsung SDI and affiliated Samsung entities participate in OLED materials R&D and supply alongside Samsung Display — a direct customer and investor in Cynora. Comparable as a vertically integrated Korean OLED materials player competing for the same design slots at Samsung Display.
• DuPont (Display & OLED materials): DuPont has historically supplied OLED materials and display chemicals through its Electronics & Industrial segment. Comparable to Cynora as a broad specialty chemical supplier serving OLED panel makers, though with a much wider materials portfolio.

Emerging players

• Noctiluca: Noctiluca is a Polish deeptech startup developing TADF and other advanced OLED emitter materials. As a smaller, emerging TADF-focused player, it is closely comparable to Cynora in technology focus, European origin, and stage of commercialization.

Regional players

• SDI (Sumitomo) OLED Materials JV: Sumitomo Chemical and Idemitsu Kosan have operated joint OLED materials ventures (e.g., S-Idemitsu OLED Materials for Korea) targeting the same Korean display customers Cynora served. Comparable as a regional Korean-focused OLED materials supplier with deep Japanese backing.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cynora_GmbH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cynora