KB ELEMENT, a South Korean startup specializing in non-oxidized graphene, has closed a Series B round worth $9.4 million (KRW 14 billion) on July 30, bringing its cumulative funding to $20.6 million (KRW 30.7 billion).
The round attracted nine institutional investors and reflects confidence in the company’s atmospheric-pressure plasma manufacturing process, commercial track record across multiple industries, and growth potential in graphene dispersion and composite materials.
Founded in 2016, KB ELEMENT produces pristine graphene using a proprietary atmospheric-pressure plasma process that eliminates the oxidation and reduction steps of conventional methods. The company has compressed the traditional multi-stage graphene production workflow into five steps, significantly lowering cost while achieving zero wastewater discharge. KB ELEMENT operates commercial-scale facilities capable of producing up to 21 metric tons of graphene powder and 2,100 metric tons of graphene dispersion annually, and has steadily expanded its footprint in high-value-added dispersion and composite materials markets.
The Series B follows a $4.7 million (KRW 7 billion) Series A and a $4.7 million bridge round. Proceeds will fund the hiring of R&D specialists and sales personnel, strengthen core technology development, and accelerate commercialization of graphene-enhanced products both domestically and abroad. The company emphasized that the investment will support intensified efforts to identify new application partners and scale its industrial customer base.
In the second half of 2026, KB ELEMENT plans to launch a masterbatch business designed to improve dispersion quality and ease of use for polymer manufacturers. The masterbatch format allows existing polymer processing lines to incorporate graphene without additional capital equipment, lowering the adoption barrier for customers in electric vehicles, outdoor gear, marine applications and other sectors. The company intends to use the masterbatch platform to secure a leading position in Korea’s graphene composites market and broaden its supply relationships.
“This investment will enable us to strengthen our R&D and sales capabilities and concentrate on practical industrial adoption and commercialization of graphene,” said Kyoungjeong Bae, CEO of KB ELEMENT. “By building on our stable domestic supply chain, we aim to lead materials localization while securing competitive advantages in global markets.”
South Korea’s advanced materials sector has seen sustained investor interest in recent quarters. CarbonSix raised a $40 million Series A in July to scale its physical AI platform for manufacturing quality control, while Point2 Technology closed an $80 million Series B extension earlier this month to expand AI-driven semiconductor interconnect solutions. KB ELEMENT’s latest round underscores continued momentum in Materials and Manufacturing innovation, particularly for startups demonstrating both proprietary process technology and established commercial traction.
