6K Valuation, Funding & Investors

6K is valued at $83M as of May 2019.

See full 6K profile

Last 6K valuation

$83M

Series B · May 2019

Last 6K funding round

$82M

Series E · Sep 2024

Cumulative funding 6K raised

$273M

across 7 funding rounds

Key investors in 6K

  • LaunchCapital
  • Anzu Partners
  • Material Impact
  • RKS Ventures
  • Energy Impact Partners
  • Volta Energy Technologies

6K Overview

About 6K

6K is a North Andover, Massachusetts-headquartered materials science company founded in 2014 that employs microwave plasma reactors to produce battery cathodes, additive powders, and refractories. Its Unimelt platforms process nickel-manganese-cobalt precursors in seconds for EV batteries supplied to Panasonic and solid-state developers. The company reduces energy use by two-thirds compared to traditional smelters, serving aerospace with titanium powders for Lockheed Martin. 6K operates pilot lines producing 500 tons yearly across its 50,000-square-foot facility.


Founded

2014

HQ

United StatesUnited States

Website

6kinc.com

Status

Privately held

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Product sales

Valuation

$83M (May 2019)

6K Valuation

6K is currently valued at $83M, based on its Series B in May 2019.

The $11M round was led by Anzu Partners, with participation from LaunchCapital, Material Impact and RKS Ventures.

6K valuation by funding round

6K valuation by funding round
DateStageValuation
May 2019Series B$83M

6K Funding History

6K has raised a total of $273M across 7 funding rounds.

6K's first fundraising round was a $2M seed round in June 2016. The most recent completed round was a $82M Series E in September 2024.

6K funding rounds

6K funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedValuationDeal Summary
Sep 2024Series ELaunchCapital; Material Impact; Anzu Partners; Volta Energy Technologies; Energy Impact Partners$82M--
May 2022Series DKoch Strategic Platforms (lead); HG Ventures; Albemarle; Energy Impact Partners$102M-6K Inc., a Massachusetts-based company specializing in advanced plasma technology called UniMelt, develops engineered materials for battery production and recycling as well as premium 3D metal powders for additive manufacturing. The company operates two divisions: 6K Energy, focused on cathode production for lithium-ion batteries, and 6K Additive, producing metal powders. 6K aims to establish a domestic U.S. supply chain for critical battery materials, partnering with Albemarle for sustainable lithium products and Heritage/Retriev for cathode recycling from end-of-life batteries. On May 12, 2022, 6K announced the first close of its Series D funding round, raising $102 million led by Koch Strategic Platforms (KSP), a subsidiary of Koch Investments Group. Participating investors included Energy Impact Partners, Albemarle, HG Ventures, and existing 6K investors. This tranche is the initial part of a Series D round expected to total over $150 million with a second close anticipated in spring 2022, adding strategic investors. The funding will support expansion of production for premium 3D metal powders at 6K Additive in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and accelerate deployment of cathode production plants by 6K Energy in North Andover, Massachusetts. Koch Strategic Platforms highlighted 6K's competitive U.S.-based production process for battery materials across various chemistries, positioning it to advance energy transformation and the battery value chain. CEO Aaron Bent emphasized the need for domestic lithium-ion battery material production amid projected tenfold market growth driven by electric vehicles and critical infrastructure. Koch Industries, through KSP, gains exposure to key U.S. assets in metal additive manufacturing and potential battery production, complementing prior investments like Desktop Metal.
Sep 2021Series CPrithvi Ventures (lead); Volta Energy Technologies (lead); LaunchCapital; Catalus Capital; Material Impact; Anzu Partners; S CAP; RKS Ventures$51M-6K, a North Andover, MA-based company, specializes in sustainable production of advanced materials for energy storage, including lithium-ion battery materials, and additive manufacturing powders using its proprietary UniMelt platform. The platform aims to replace legacy production methods with more sustainable, lower-cost processes to address supply chain security, climate change, and resource limitations. On September 22, 2021, 6K closed a $51M Series C financing round led by Volta Energy Technologies, with participation from new investors Catalus Capital and S Cap/Prithvi Ventures, alongside existing investors Anzu Partners, Launch Capital, Material Impact, and RKS Ventures. Proceeds from the round were allocated to complete a Battery Development Center of Excellence, adding 33,000 sq ft of space and doubling the 6K Energy team size. Funding also supported tripling production capacity for 3D metal powders at 6K Additive, expanding the powder product portfolio, and growing global commercial sales across divisions including 6K Additive, 6K Energy, and 6K Future Materials. CEO Aaron Bent highlighted the investment as validation of the UniMelt model for scaled production, customer needs, and industry transformation toward profitability. Investor quotes emphasized alignment with 6K's sustainability focus in battery materials for electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing. Volta Energy Technologies and others saw potential for supply chain independence and domestic production. Subsequent rounds include a Series E first close of $82M in September 2024 by similar investors for scaling battery cathode active materials and metal powders production.
May 2019Series BAnzu Partners (lead); LaunchCapital; Material Impact; RKS Ventures$11M-6K develops advanced materials using proprietary plasma processing for applications including lithium-ion batteries, additive manufacturing powders, silicon wafers, LED lighting, and thermal coatings. The company, formerly Amastan Technologies and based in North Andover, MA, received investments from Anzu Partners starting in October 2017. On May 21, 2019, 6K raised $11 million in a Series E-B2 round led by Anzu Partners, with participation from LaunchCapital, Material Impact, and others, bringing total funding to $82.7 million at that point.
May 2019Series BAnzu Partners (lead); LaunchCapital; Material Impact; RKS Ventures$11M$83M-
Oct 2017Series BAnzu Partners (lead); LaunchCapital; Material Impact; KLP Ventures; RKS Ventures$14M-6K is a developer of high-value advanced materials using proprietary microwave-plasma production technology, specifically its UniMelt platform. The company focuses on producing critical materials for silicon wafers, LED lighting, powders for industrial 3D printing, advanced battery technologies, and thermal coatings. In October 2017, 6K completed a Series B funding round, raising $13.85 million led by industrial technology venture capital firm Anzu Partners, with participation from Material Impact, RKS Ventures, KLP Ventures, and LaunchCapital. The round also included a $2 million loan from Massachusetts Development, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' finance and development agency. The capital was allocated to expand commercial partnerships, increase production capacity with new equipment and systems, grow its engineering staff, and explore new application areas for its proprietary technology. Mark Little, former Chief Technology Officer of General Electric and Material Impact VenturePartner, joined 6K's Board of Directors as part of the transaction.
Jun 2016Seed-$2M--

Who has invested in 6K?

13 investors have backed 6K across its funding rounds, including LaunchCapital, Anzu Partners, Material Impact, RKS Ventures, Energy Impact Partners and Volta Energy Technologies.

Lead investors include Koch Strategic Platforms, Prithvi Ventures, Volta Energy Technologies and Anzu Partners.


6K Investors

Investors in 6K by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check
LaunchCapitalUnited StatesNew Haven, CT5ParticipantOct 2017
Material ImpactUnited StatesBoston, MA5ParticipantOct 2017
Anzu PartnersUnited StatesWashington, DC5LeadOct 2017
RKS VenturesUnited StatesAustin, TX4ParticipantOct 2017
Volta Energy TechnologiesUnited StatesChicago, IL2LeadSep 2021
Energy Impact PartnersUnited StatesNew York City, NY2ParticipantMay 2022
HG VenturesUnited StatesIndianapolis, IN1ParticipantMay 2022
Koch Strategic PlatformsUnited StatesWichita, KS1LeadMay 2022
AlbemarleUnited StatesCharlotte, NC1ParticipantMay 2022
Prithvi VenturesUnited StatesNew York City, NY1LeadSep 2021
Catalus CapitalUnited StatesGreenwich, CT1ParticipantSep 2021

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6K Competitors

6K competitors include listed companies like 6K Additive, Titomic and Tigo Energy, and private ones like Graphene Composites, Jiangsu Guanlan New Material and Aquifi.

Public and private companies comparable to 6K
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
Graphene CompositesUnited KingdomWeymouthPrivate--$122M-
6K AdditiveUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$18M($13M)$142M4.9x
TitomicUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$6M($14M)$159M15.3x
Jiangsu Guanlan New MaterialChinaYangzhouPrivate--$56M-
AquifiUnited StatesSan Francisco, CAPrivate--$76M-
Tigo EnergyUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$104M$10M$75M0.6x

6K Public Comps

6K is still privately-owned, but its public comps include Midsummer, Umbrella Global Energy, Solrom Holdings, Maytronics, Drilling Tools, Tigo Energy, Otovo, Wallbox, Lumir and Talga Group.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Midsummer$17M($396K)4.9x-(206.7x)-
Umbrella Global Energy$28M($7M)3.0x-(12.4x)-
Solrom Holdings$33M$11M3.0x-8.8x-
Maytronics$463M($5M)0.7x-(73.8x)-
Drilling Tools$160M$29M1.0x1.0x5.6x4.2x
Tigo Energy$104M$10M0.6x0.6x6.4x30.3x
Otovo$60M($27M)1.5x1.6x(3.2x)(4.0x)
Wallbox$167M($59M)1.8x1.8x(5.0x)(10.7x)

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Common questions about 6K

When was 6K founded?6K was founded in 2014.
Where is 6K headquartered?6K is headquartered in United States.
Is 6K publicly listed?No, 6K is a private, VC-backed company.
What is 6K's valuation?6K was last valued at $83M in its Series B in May 2019.
How much funding has 6K raised?6K has raised $273M across 7 funding rounds.
What was 6K's last funding round?6K's last funding round was a $82M Series E in September 2024.
Who are 6K's investors?6K's investors include LaunchCapital, Material Impact, Anzu Partners, RKS Ventures, Volta Energy Technologies, Energy Impact Partners, HG Ventures, Koch Strategic Platforms, Albemarle, Prithvi Ventures and 3 others.
Which companies are comparable to 6K?Companies comparable to 6K include Graphene Composites, 6K Additive, Titomic, Jiangsu Guanlan New Material, Aquifi and Tigo Energy.

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