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§ Private Profile · Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
ReCatalyst is a company.
ReCatalyst develops and supplies advanced platinum-based catalyst solutions specifically engineered for hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolyzers. Utilizing a proprietary nano-tech production process, the company focuses on optimizing the efficiency and reducing the precious metal content of these critical components. Their innovative approach aims to enhance the performance and scalability of hydrogen technologies by making platinum usage more effective.
The company was officially incorporated in the first quarter of 2021 by co-founders Matija Gatalo, who also serves as CEO and is the main inventor of the core technology, and Tomaž Bizjak, who holds an advisory role. Their foundational insight stemmed from recognizing the scarcity and high cost of platinum as a significant hurdle to the widespread adoption and commercial viability of hydrogen-based energy systems. ReCatalyst emerged from the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana.
ReCatalyst’s products serve manufacturers of hydrogen technologies across various global markets. The company envisions itself as a leader in high-quality catalyst materials, driving the decarbonization of the transport and energy sectors. Their overarching mission is to enable customers to achieve massive scalability and high-performance hydrogen technologies through customizable solutions that maximize the efficient use of precious metals.
ReCatalyst has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at ReCatalyst.
ReCatalyst has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Key people at ReCatalyst.
ReCatalyst is a Slovenian deep-tech startup founded in 2021 that develops and commercializes nanotechnology-based platinum-alloy catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, targeting decarbonization in energy and heavy-duty transport sectors like trucks, trains, ships, and airplanes.[1][2][3] Its core products optimize precious metal usage, achieving up to 60% reduction in platinum while cutting PEMFC stack costs by 45% and improving efficiency and durability for heavy-duty applications.[2][3][5] The company serves fuel cell manufacturers and has customers across five continents, including G7 economies, with validated scalability and a portfolio expandable to water electrolysis and Power-to-X markets; it has raised $4.83M, secured awards like Slovenian Startup of the Year 2023 and EIT Awards 2024 runner-up, and is pursuing Series A funding.[1][2][4]
ReCatalyst spun out from Slovenia's National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) in early 2021, founded by Dr. Matija Gatalo, a PhD in Chemical Sciences with expertise in nanocatalysts, and Tomaž Bizjak, a deep-tech entrepreneur.[2][3] The idea stemmed from Gatalo's ERC Proof of Concept project "StableCat," which laid the groundwork for their patented nano-tech platform to address platinum scarcity in PEM fuel cells.[3][4] Early traction came swiftly: Q1 2021 incorporation and StableCat funding (€150K), followed by EIT Raw Materials Accelerator phases (€45K total), exclusive NIC licensing, and awards like Falling Walls Venture and BASF Innovation Hub winners in 2021, plus first customers in 2022.[4] By 2023, a €1.7M seed round from investors like xista science ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds, and RUJ Ventures, plus a €2.5M EIC Transition grant coordinating with German partners, fueled momentum.[2][3]
ReCatalyst rides the global hydrogen economy wave, where PEM fuel cells are pivotal for net-zero goals in hard-to-abate sectors like heavy-duty transport, amid EU and international mandates for decarbonization.[1][3][5] Timing is ideal: platinum scarcity and high costs have bottlenecked scaling, but falling electrolyzer prices, policy incentives (e.g., Horizon Europe funding), and rising demand from truck/shipping OEMs create tailwinds.[2][3] Market forces favor it—hydrogen tech projected for rapid growth, limited premium catalyst supply—while ReCatalyst influences the ecosystem by enabling cheaper, efficient stacks, partnering with globals, and expanding Slovenia's deep-tech hub status via accelerators like EIT.[3][4][5]
ReCatalyst is poised for Series A success, leveraging its validated tech, customer pipeline, and IP to capture share in the exploding hydrogen catalyst market, potentially disrupting incumbents with superior Pt efficiency.[1][2] Trends like electrolyzer boom, Pt recycling mandates, and heavy-duty FCEV adoption (e.g., trucks by 2030) will propel growth, with platform extensions unlocking electrolysis revenue.[3][5] Its influence may evolve from Slovenian spinout to European hydrogen enabler, fostering regional innovation clusters and drawing more venture capital to CEE deep tech. This nano-revolution optimizes the path to scalable clean energy, directly tackling the platinum barrier that has long hindered fuel cell commercialization.[2][3]
ReCatalyst has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ReCatalyst's investors include Jan Engels, Simon Schild von Spannenberg, Florian Resch, IST cube, Nina Capital, Tine Tomažič, RUJ Ventures.
ReCatalyst has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in July 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2023 | $2M Seed | JAN Engels, Simon Schild VON Spannenberg, Florian Resch | IST Cube, Nina Capital, Tine Tomažič, RUJ Ventures | Announced |
