Turkish deep-tech fund 212 NexT, focused on advanced materials and industrial technologies, has invested in Aepnus during its pre-Series A funding round.

Aepnus, founded by Lukas Hackl and Bilen Akuzum, is headquartered in the US with operations in Canada and Germany. It is developing a modular alternative to conventional energy-intensive production methods. Aepnus' technology is designed to enable lower-carbon manufacturing while reducing hazardous by-products such as chlorine gas, with applications across the chemicals industry, heavy manufacturing, and critical mineral processing.

Focus on Localized Production

Bilen Aküzüm, co-founder and CTO of Aepnus, stated that the company is developing a new electrochemical production model to enable the localized manufacturing of essential industrial chemicals that are challenging to produce using conventional methods. Aküzüm highlighted that Turkey spends over $150 million annually on caustic soda imports alone, and that Aepnus' approach can strengthen supply security through safe, on-site, and lower-carbon production.

Çağlar Urcan, Managing Partner at 212 NexT, commented that Aepnus is addressing structural challenges in the production of essential chemicals such as caustic soda, which are increasingly affected by supply constraints and cost volatility. Aepnus' modular, chlorine-free electrochemical process offers a commercially viable and more sustainable alternative to conventional production methods, enabling competitive on-site manufacturing and eliminating hazardous chlorine gas by-products.