KB Element, a South Korean manufacturer of non-oxidized graphene, has closed a Series B funding round of KRW 14 billion (approximately USD $10.1 million). Nine investors took part in the round.
Founded in 2016, KB Element produces non-oxidized graphene using its own atmospheric-pressure plasma process, which reduces the conventional oxidize-and-reduce graphene manufacturing sequence to five stages, lowering production costs and avoiding wastewater generation associated with traditional graphene oxide routes. The company's current capacity reportedly stands at 21 tonnes per year for graphene powder and 2,100 tonnes per year for graphene dispersion.
The Series B brings KB Element's cumulative funding to KRW 30.7 billion (approximately USD $22.1 million), following an earlier KRW 7 billion Series A round and a KRW 7 billion bridge round. The company plans to use the new capital to expand its R&D and sales teams, advance its materials and applied products, and accelerate commercialization both domestically and abroad. In the second half of 2026, KB Element will push forward a graphene masterbatch project targeting the domestic composite market; the masterbatch is designed to be applied to existing polymer processing equipment without requiring new machinery, aimed at sectors including electric vehicles, outdoor goods, and marine industries.
"We plan to focus on the practical industrial application and commercialization of graphene. Based on a stable domestic supply chain, we will lead the localization of materials and secure a competitive edge in the global market," said Bae Kyung-jung, CEO of KB Element.
