Cleantech startup Molten Industries recently secured $25 million in funding through a Series A round to enhance its capacity in producing graphite for lithium-ion batteries and clean hydrogen for decarbonizing heavy industries. Founded in 2021 in California by Dr. Caleb Boyd and Dr. Kevin Bush, Molten Industries focuses on methane pyrolysis technology to convert natural gas into clean hydrogen gas and graphite. By cracking methane at high temperatures using renewable energy, the company produces hydrogen and graphite crucial for batteries and decarbonization. The methane utilized is sourced from certified low-emission sources and waste streams like dairy farms and landfills, resulting in carbon-neutral or carbon-negative outputs. Molten's process not only consumes less energy than traditional hydrogen production methods but also addresses the environmental impact associated with graphite manufacturing. The company plans to use the raised capital to construct its first modular commercial reactor in Oakland, California, with the goal of producing 5,000 tonnes of hydrogen and 15,000 tonnes of graphite annually. Notable investors in this funding round include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Sozo Ventures, and Mark Heising, alongside existing investors. Breakthrough Energy Ventures emphasized the importance of securing reliable graphite sources for electric vehicles and praised Molten's cost-effective production process.