Kyulux Funding, Investors & Competitors

Kyulux has raised $128M across 7 funding rounds, most recently a undisclosed-stage round in May 2026.

Last Kyulux funding round

Undisclosed stage

Amount undisclosed · May 2026

Cumulative funding Kyulux raised

$128M

across 7 funding rounds

Key investors in Kyulux

  • DBJ Capital
  • Celesta Capital
  • Japan Science and Technology Agency
  • Mitsubishi UFJ Capital
  • Samsung Ventures
  • UntroD Capital
  • Kyoto University Innovation Capital
  • QB Capital

Kyulux Overview

About Kyulux

Kyulux is a Fukuoka-based developer of thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials for organic light-emitting diodes. The company supplies TADF and hyperfluorescence OLED emitters, dopants, and device solutions to display manufacturers such as Samsung Display and JOLED. Spun out from Kyushu University in 2015, Kyulux holds over 100 patents in phosphorescent and TADF technologies, enabling higher-efficiency panels for TVs, smartphones, and lighting applications.


Founded

2015

HQ

JapanFukuoka

Website

kyulux.com

Status

Privately held

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Product sales

Kyulux Funding History

Kyulux has raised a total of $128M across 7 funding rounds.

Kyulux's first fundraising round was a $14M Series A in April 2016. The most recent completed round was a undisclosed-stage round in May 2026.

Kyulux funding rounds

Kyulux funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedDeal Summary
May 2026Undisclosed stagePower Angels (lead)--
Mar 2023Series CMCP Japan Evolution Fund (lead); Road Capital (lead)$32MKyulux, Inc., founded in 2015 in Fukuoka, Japan, develops next-generation OLED emitter materials based on TADF and Hyperfluorescence technologies exclusively licensed from Kyushu University and Harvard University. The company markets cost-effective, durable, efficient OLEDs without rare metals, targeting displays and lighting. It began commercial shipment of TADF materials for the world's first Hyperfluorescence display in 2020 and aims for full-scale mass production by 2025. Kyulux's Series B round finalized with ¥3.5 billion ($31.8 million USD) raised, following a 2016 Series A of ¥1.5 billion, with investors including WRVI Capital and others; funds supported product development, IP, and governance for commercialization of Hyperfluorescence. The Series C round closed December 1, 2023, raising ¥4.27 billion ($28.6 million USD) led by El Camino Capital and MCP Group, bringing total funding to ¥12.7 billion; proceeds accelerate R&D, IP expansion, and mass production with chemical partners. Kyulux has progressed commercialization: green emitters in pilot testing by Q3 2022, mass production H2 2023; red by early 2024; blue by end-2024. Hyperfluorescence combines TADF and fluorescent emitters for narrow spectrum, near-100% IQE, surpassing PHOLED efficiency without heavy metals. WiseChip launched the first commercial hyperfluorescent yellow display in 2019.
Feb 2021Series BShanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment (lead); DBJ Capital$34MKyulux, Inc., a Fukuoka-based startup founded in 2015 from Kyushu University, develops next-generation OLED emitter materials using TADF (Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence) and Hyperfluorescence™ technology, exclusively licensed from Kyushu and Harvard Universities. The company began commercial shipment of TADF materials for the world’s first Hyperfluorescence™ display in 2020 and focuses on cost-effective, durable, efficient OLEDs without rare metals for applications like smartphones. On February 19, 2021, Kyulux closed its Series B-Prime funding round, raising ¥3.625 billion (approximately $34.3 million USD) from investors including Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment (Pudong STI), which led the round and joined the board with Investment Director Dr. Zou Jun as an outside director. Other investors included DBJ Capital. This followed prior Series A and B rounds totaling ¥5 billion. The funds were allocated to accelerate product development for smartphone OLED adoption, strengthen IP including Hyperfluorescence™ patents transferred from Kyushu University, build mass production systems with chemical partners, integrate sales and development, and expand into the Chinese market. CEO Noboyuki Nakano emphasized rapid market delivery and business collaborations. Kyulux continued fundraising with a Series C round in November 2023, raising 4.27-4.72 billion yen (around $28.6 million USD) led by El Camino Capital and MCP Group, bringing total funding to ¥12.7-12.9 billion. In 2024, it formed a capital and business alliance with Nippon Soda for TADF mass production and supply starting 2025. Customers include Samsung Display, LG Display, Sony Group, Nagase, and Japan Display. The company operates a 717㎡ research lab with cleanroom facilities, vacuum equipment, and a materials informatics platform Kyumatic trained on over 260,000 data points for property prediction, positioning it as an innovator in the OLED industry.
May 2019Series BCelesta Capital (lead); DBJ Capital; Golden Asia Fund Venture; Shijo; Mitsubishi UFJ Capital; Kyoto University Innovation Capital; HT Capital$32MKyulux, a Fukuoka-based company founded in 2015, develops next-generation OLED emitter systems including TADF and Hyperfluorescence technologies licensed from Kyushu University and Harvard University, enabling efficient, durable OLEDs without rare metals. In its Series B funding round finalized around May 2019, Kyulux raised ¥3.5 billion ($31.8 million USD) from investors including Celesta Capital, DBJ Capital, Golden Asia Fund Venture, HT Capital, Kyoto University Innovation Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and Shijo, with Celesta Capital as the lead. Previously, in Series A (April 2016), it raised $13.5M from investors like Celesta Capital, JOLED, LG Display, Samsung, and others. The Series B funds were allocated to accelerate product development, strengthen IP, business development, and organizational structure, while updating governance for global operations centered on the display industry. Kyulux aimed to commercialize Hyperfluorescence, targeting the growing OLED market beyond smartphones and TVs. CEO Junji Adachi highlighted partnerships with global deep tech investors and the addition of Nicholas Brathwaite from WRVI Capital to the board, leveraging his experience from Aptina and Flextronics. By 2020, Kyulux began commercial shipment of TADF materials for the world's first Hyperfluorescence display. Total funding reached ¥5B after Series A and B by 2019, later increasing with B-Prime and Series C ($28.6M in December 2023 led by El Camino Capital and MCP Group, bringing cumulative funding to ¥12.7B). Later developments include collaborations with LG Display and Samsung Display for mass production of green and red materials, with plans for full-scale production by 2025 and commercialization timelines for emitters in 2023-2024.
Dec 2018Series BCelesta Capital (lead)$6MKyulux is a Japanese company established in 2015 that develops next-generation OLED emitter systems, including TADF and Hyperfluorescence™ technologies licensed from Kyushu University and Harvard University, enabling cost-effective, durable, and efficient OLEDs without rare metals. JOLED invested in Kyulux's Series A round on April 6, 2016, raising $13.5 million alongside co-investors including Celesta Capital, Government of Japan, Japan Display, Kyushu University, LG Display, Samsung, and Samsung Ventures. Kyulux later raised ¥8.6 billion across Series A, B, and B-Prime rounds prior to its Series C in December 2023, which raised 4.27 billion JPY ($28.6 million USD) led by El Camino Capital and MCP Group, bringing total funding to ¥12.7 billion, with plans to accelerate product development, IP strengthening, and mass production from 2025.
Feb 2018Series ANagase & Co; Japan Science and Technology Agency$10M-
Apr 2016Series ASamsung Ventures (lead); DBJ Capital; Samsung Display Solutions; UntroD Capital; QB Capital; LG Display; Japan Science and Technology Agency; Japan Display; JOLED$14MKyulux, a Fukuoka, Japan-based advanced materials startup, develops Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) technology for next-generation OLED displays and lighting. The company commercializes OLED innovations invented by co-founder Professor Chihaya Adachi from Kyushu University, which transferred a large portfolio of TADF-related patents and participated in equity financing. Samsung Venture Investment Corporation led the Series A round announced on April 6, 2016, with participation from OLED panel manufacturers including Samsung Display, LG Display, Japan Display, and JOLED, alongside top-tier Japanese venture capital funds and a Japanese government-affiliated fund matching the listed investors such as DBJ Capital, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and QB Capital. The round raised $13.5 million (¥1.5 billion), enabling Kyulux to accelerate development of TADF materials into the de facto standard for OLED applications. CEO Christopher Savoie highlighted the involvement of global OLED leaders to advance next-generation technology for displays and lighting. CTO Junji Adachi noted confidence in novel TADF materials' progress with corporate partner support, targeting introduction to the market soon for IoT interfaces. Kyulux later completed a Series B round raising ¥3.5 billion ($31.8 million) with some Series A participants and new investor WRVI Capital, focusing on product development, IP strengthening, business expansion, and governance updates for global operations in the growing OLED market beyond smartphones and TVs.

Who has invested in Kyulux?

20 investors have backed Kyulux across its funding rounds, including DBJ Capital, Celesta Capital, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Samsung Ventures and UntroD Capital.

Lead investors include Power Angels, MCP Japan Evolution Fund, Road Capital, Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment, Celesta Capital and 1 other investor.


Kyulux Investors

Investors in Kyulux by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check
DBJ CapitalJapanJapan3ParticipantApr 2016
Japan Science and Technology AgencyJapanKawaguchi2ParticipantApr 2016
Celesta CapitalUnited StatesSan Francisco, CA2LeadDec 2018
Road CapitalUnited StatesNew York City, NY1LeadMar 2023
Samsung Display SolutionsSouth KoreaChuncheon1ParticipantApr 2016
Golden Asia Fund VentureJapanTokyo1ParticipantMay 2019
Samsung VenturesSouth KoreaSouth Korea1LeadApr 2016
UntroD CapitalJapanTokyo1ParticipantApr 2016
QB CapitalJapanFukuoka1ParticipantApr 2016
ShijoJapanTokyo1ParticipantMay 2019
Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology InvestmentChinaShanghai1LeadFeb 2021
Mitsubishi UFJ CapitalJapanTokyo1ParticipantMay 2019
LG DisplaySouth KoreaSeoul1ParticipantApr 2016

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Kyulux Competitors

Kyulux competitors include listed companies like Air Liquide, Bloom Energy, Merck KGaA and Disco, and private ones like Colossal Biosciences and Group14 Technologies.

Public and private companies comparable to Kyulux
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
Air LiquideFranceFrancePublicly listed$31B$8.6B$122B4.4x
Bloom EnergyUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$2B($14M)$83B23.7x
Merck KGaAGermanyGermanyPublicly listed$24B$5.3B$66B3.1x
DiscoJapanJapanPublicly listed$2.8B$1.3B$35B10.7x
Colossal BiosciencesUnited StatesAustin, TXPrivate--$10B-
Group14 TechnologiesUnited StatesSeattle, WAPrivate$39M-$5.1B-

Kyulux Public Comps

Kyulux is still privately-owned, but its public comps include GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, Air Liquide, Bloom Energy, SLB, Merck KGaA, Baker Hughes, Sandvik, Doosan Enerbility and Disco.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
GE Vernova$38B$3.2B6.2x5.4x73.5x43.5x
Siemens Energy$45B$4.5B2.7x2.4x27.3x16.1x
Air Liquide$31B$8.6B4.5x4.4x16.4x14.3x
Bloom Energy$2B($14M)40.9x23.7x(5906.9x)112.5x
SLB$36B$7B2.4x2.4x12.5x10.6x
Merck KGaA$24B$5.3B3.1x3.1x14.3x10.7x
Baker Hughes$28B$4.3B2.0x2.0x13.3x11.3x
Sandvik$12B$2.9B4.2x3.6x18.2x14.3x

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Common questions about Kyulux

When was Kyulux founded?Kyulux was founded in 2015.
Where is Kyulux headquartered?Kyulux is headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan.
Is Kyulux publicly listed?No, Kyulux is a private, VC-backed company.
How much funding has Kyulux raised?Kyulux has raised $128M across 7 funding rounds.
What was Kyulux's last funding round?Kyulux's last funding round was a undisclosed-stage round in May 2026, led by Power Angels.
Who are Kyulux's investors?Kyulux's investors include DBJ Capital, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Celesta Capital, Road Capital, Samsung Display Solutions, Golden Asia Fund Venture, Samsung Ventures, UntroD Capital, QB Capital, Shijo and 10 others.
Which companies are comparable to Kyulux?Companies comparable to Kyulux include Air Liquide, Bloom Energy, Merck KGaA, Disco, Colossal Biosciences and Group14 Technologies.

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