Matt’s career began in the energy sector during a pivotal time of deregulation in California. This early exposure to innovation within legacy industries laid the foundation for a lifelong pursuit: helping large corporations and startups work together to drive transformative change. After 15 years in VC, a stint as an entrepreneur, and a move into corporate venture capital, Matt now leads Syensqo Ventures, a fund backed by one of the world’s largest materials science companies.

Spun off from Solvay in 2024, Syensqo is a €7B global materials company focused on high-performance, sustainable solutions. Its venture arm—an €80M evergreen fund—invests globally in startups developing advanced materials, often at the intersection of mobility, circularity, bio-based products, and AI-powered materials discovery.

Unlike traditional VCs, Syensqo Ventures looks for strategic alignment. Startups that can benefit from Syensqo’s deep material science expertise, infrastructure, or supply chain are most likely to receive investment. “I want to know what Syensqo can do to help accelerate your business,” says Matt.

The team invests early—typically at seed or Series A stages—when startups are still figuring out product-market fit and need help with technical validation, de-risking, or market entry. With six team members across the US, Europe, and Asia, they invest globally and often co-invest with financial VCs. They can lead rounds if needed, with typical check sizes ranging from €250K to €3M, and reserves for follow-ons.

• Biomaterials: As demand grows for sustainable consumer products, bio-based inputs are becoming more relevant.
• Composites & Circular Design: Syensqo is prioritizing innovations that enable lightweight, recyclable, and high-performance materials for aviation, automotive, and consumer goods.
• AI & Materials Discovery: While AI is lowering the cost of discovery, commercialization still requires partnerships, manufacturing, and distribution—areas where corporates play a key role.

Matt emphasizes that innovation doesn’t belong solely to startups or corporates—it’s a shared journey. Syensqo runs internal R&D, collaborates with universities, and co-develops products with startups. "There’s no frontier—just partnerships that accelerate solutions."

Syensqo publicly reports on circular sales, using a metric developed with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This isn't just marketing—it's part of how the company defines and measures sustainability goals across its value chains. For startups, this signals a strong alignment in building products that are recyclable, bio-based, or reduce environmental impact.

While the team sees startups following similar patterns globally, they tailor their approach by region—with specific networks in Europe, North America, and Asia. They're active co-investors in funds like Sofinnova and IndieBio, particularly in the biotech and advanced materials space.

Website: Syensqo Ventures
LinkedIn: Matt Jones – Syensqo
Company LinkedIn: Syensqo

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