Seed Investment Programme Grant

About this grant

Rhapsody Venture Partners is a specialist seed-stage investor focused exclusively on hard science startups addressing industrial problems. The firm invests in companies emerging from university labs and research institutions in physics, chemistry, and applied sciences, with applications spanning agriculture, manufacturing, electronics, energy, semiconductors, food technology, and more. Their first check into a company is typically $500K to $2MM, and they frequently lead large syndicates in follow-on rounds. Beyond capital, Rhapsody co-creates startups alongside founders by embedding their team members in business development and marketing roles to generate initial customers and partnerships. They screen approximately 2,000 startups per year and work to connect hard science founders with industry strategic partners to ensure market fit, create non-dilutive financing options, and accelerate time to market. The firm also operates an Innovation Partner Program (IPP) for industrial companies interested in early-stage scientific innovation, and an Innovation Ecosystem network for Tech Transfer Officers at universities. Rhapsody positions itself as a true partner to scientific founders, with a due diligence process that is collaborative, including taking founders to potential customers and partners to jointly validate market opportunity.

Eligibility

Applicants must be founders of hard science startups—primarily those originating from university research or technology transfer—working on industrial problems in areas such as physics, chemistry, and applied sciences (including agriculture, manufacturing, electronics, energy, semiconductors, and food technology). The firm works with scientific founders at the seed stage who are ready to demonstrate their technology. There is no explicit geographic restriction stated, though the portfolio reflects a strong US and UK presence. The programme is targeted at startups, not established companies.

How it's scored

Rhapsody conducts a collaborative due diligence process, taking founders to potential customers and partners to jointly substantiate the market opportunity. They appear to prioritise readiness for technology demonstration, strength of the underlying science, industrial applicability, and the potential for strategic industry partnerships. No formal scoring criteria, weightings, or panel composition details are publicly disclosed.

Key requirements

• ✓Hard-science or deep-tech startup with physics, chemistry, or applied-science foundation
• ✓Addressing industrial problems with applications in agriculture, manufacturing, electronics, materials, or related sectors
• ✓Typically seeking seed-round capital in the $500K–$2MM range

Recent past awardees

Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.

• Chinova · 2018
• HyperDamping
• Adden Energy
• Biophilica (Treekind) · 2022
• Fluid Efficiency
• Holiferm
• Sensatek
• ChEmpower

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Rhapsody Venture Partners offer?

Seed Investment Programme offers up to $2M.

Who can apply for Seed Investment Programme?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; startup. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Low-carbon materials funding covers cement, concrete, steel, chemicals, timber and novel building materials with lower embodied carbon. It ranges from research grants to demonstration plants and public procurement that specifies lower-carbon products. Calls often ask for lifecycle assessment, product testing against standards and interest from buyers in construction or manufacturing.