Deep Tech Explained: From Lab to Global Impact
An Angel Investor's Perspective on Deep Tech in the US & EU
Read Time: 7 mins
My first angel check was your run of the mill tech startup: SaaS company with a mobile app, quick development cycles, fast customer feedback, relatively low capital requirements. Don’t get me wrong, I love what they’re doing but the impact is limited.
Once I decided I wanted to tackle climate change, I realized the planetary impact wasn’t in SaaS. It was startups working on new battery chemistries, carbon capture materials, fusion energy, green hydrogen, plastic replacements, and advanced manufacturing processes.
These startups aren't building apps—they’re building the future.
Deep Tech innovation is rooted in breakthrough science and engineering to solve major challenges like climate change, energy, or health. The term emerged over the past few years to describe startups in the life sciences, energy, clean technology, computer sciences, materials, and chemicals sectors.
Sera’s Notes:
This could be particularly interesting for investors because while AI’s widespread use over the past few years weakens the SaaS moat, deep tech solutions are built around unique, protected and/or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advantages.
EIT has defined 15 subcategories, which it updates regularly. This may be helpful if you are having a hard time imagining what deep tech solutions targeting climate change or health breakthroughs may consist of.
The most climate-relevant including:
Advanced Materials: New composites revolutionizing construction and transportation
Sustainable Energy: From fusion to next-generation solar and battery systems
Biotechnology: Synthetic biology for carbon capture and sustainable manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing: Dramatically lower environmental impact production
What Makes Deep Tech Different
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