Revolutionary Material Set to Change the Construction Industry
InventWood, a startup that has created a groundbreaking material called Superwood, has secured $15 million in the first close of its Series A funding round. This investment marks a significant milestone for the company as it prepares to begin shipments from its first commercial manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the third quarter of 2025.
What is Superwood?
Superwood represents a fundamental breakthrough in materials science, transforming ordinary wood at the molecular level to create an extraordinary building material that is "stronger than steel". This innovative material outperforms traditional construction materials while preserving all of wood’s beloved natural qualities. Superwood maintains wood’s warmth, texture, workability, and natural aesthetic while being engineered to withstand extreme weather, high humidity, fire, rot, and pests.
Benefits of Superwood
The benefits of Superwood are numerous. It enables entirely new approaches to construction as architects and builders seek economic and climate-resilient solutions with dramatically reduced environmental impact. Superwood will allow for the creation of structures that are stronger and lighter than steel while retaining all the biogenic qualities people have treasured in wood for millennia.
Transforming the Built Environment
According to Alex Lau, CEO of InventWood, "Superwood demonstrates what’s possible when we combine nature’s most highly evolved structure with revolutionary science." This funding enables the company to scale production of a material that will fundamentally change how we build. Paul Hawken, environmentalist, author, and investor, adds, "InventWood has achieved an extraordinary breakthrough that exalts the genius of the natural world. By transforming rather than replacing wood, Superwood has created an astonishing material that will be the future of the built environment worldwide."
The Science Behind Superwood
The funding milestone follows InventWood’s groundbreaking research that began in 2018, when founder Dr. Liangbing Hu developed the patented process that removes specific components of wood’s cellular structure and compresses it, creating a material up to 12 times stronger and 10 times tougher than the wood it came from. Dr. Hu brought insights and tools from his work in carbon nanotubes to the world of wood, with his research leading to a material with a "strength-to-weight ratio almost 10x that of steel while maintaining the tactile quality, grain patterns, and natural character that make wood irreplaceable in our built environment".
Domestic Sourcing and Production
In an era where America’s reliance on imports of steel, aluminum, and other materials is of national concern, InventWood’s Frederick manufacturing facility will utilize a domestically focused supply chain, sourcing wood from responsibly managed American forests and processing it entirely within the United States. This approach ensures quality control while supporting American jobs and reducing transportation and supply chain risks.
Partnerships and Support
The company recently formed a strategic partnership with Intectural, a distributor of high-performance architectural materials, positioning Superwood for rapid adoption across North America. Initial shipments will focus on commercial and residential applications requiring superior strength and climate resilience. The firm’s development and the launch of its first facility have been supported by the US Department of Energy, the US Department of Defense, Grantham, Builders Vision, the JLL Foundation, and Baruch Future Ventures, showcasing strong investor confidence in InventWood’s transformative technology and commercial potential.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Superwood is set to revolutionize the construction industry with its groundbreaking material that is stronger than steel while retaining the natural qualities of wood. With its domestically focused supply chain and strategic partnerships, InventWood is well-positioned to scale production and make a significant impact on the built environment. As the company begins commercial shipments in the third quarter of 2025, it will be exciting to see the innovative applications of Superwood in the construction industry.
