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
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
Website
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
| Date | Stage | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | Series 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
| Date | Stage | Investors | Raised | Valuation | Deal Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | Series E | LaunchCapital; Material Impact; Anzu Partners; Volta Energy Technologies; Energy Impact Partners | $82M | - | - |
| May 2022 | Series D | Koch 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 2021 | Series C | Prithvi 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 2019 | Series B | Anzu 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 2019 | Series B | Anzu Partners (lead); LaunchCapital; Material Impact; RKS Ventures | $11M | $83M | - |
| Oct 2017 | Series B | Anzu 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 2016 | Seed | - | $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
| Investor | HQ | Rounds | Role | First check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Participant | Oct 2017 | ||
| 5 | Participant | Oct 2017 | ||
| 5 | Lead | Oct 2017 | ||
| 4 | Participant | Oct 2017 | ||
| 2 | Lead | Sep 2021 | ||
| 2 | Participant | May 2022 | ||
| 1 | Participant | May 2022 | ||
| 1 | Lead | May 2022 | ||
| 1 | Participant | May 2022 | ||
| 1 | Lead | Sep 2021 | ||
| 1 | Participant | Sep 2021 | ||
This data is available for Pro users. Sign up to see all 13 6K investors. Start Free Trial | ||||
Benchmark 350K+ Funding Rounds and Disclosed VC Valuation Multiples
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Start Free Trial6K 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.
| Company | HQ | Status | Revenue | EBITDA | Valuation | Revenue Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | - | - | $122M | - | ||
| Publicly listed | $18M | ($13M) | $142M | 4.9x | ||
| Publicly listed | $6M | ($14M) | $159M | 15.3x | ||
| Private | - | - | $56M | - | ||
| Private | - | - | $76M | - | ||
| Publicly listed | $104M | $10M | $75M | 0.6x |
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 FY | EV/Revenue | EV/EBITDA | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | EBITDA | Last FY | LTM | 2027E | Last FY | LTM | 2027E | |
| $17M | ($396K) | 4.9x | - | (206.7x) | - | |||
| $28M | ($7M) | 3.0x | - | (12.4x) | - | |||
| $33M | $11M | 3.0x | - | 8.8x | - | |||
| $463M | ($5M) | 0.7x | - | (73.8x) | - | |||
| $160M | $29M | 1.0x | 1.0x | 5.6x | 4.2x | |||
| $104M | $10M | 0.6x | 0.6x | 6.4x | 30.3x | |||
| $60M | ($27M) | 1.5x | 1.6x | (3.2x) | (4.0x) | |||
| $167M | ($59M) | 1.8x | 1.8x | (5.0x) | (10.7x) | |||
This data is available for Pro users. Sign up to see all 6K competitors and their valuation data. Start Free Trial | ||||||||
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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