TracXon raises €4.75M for sustainable printed circuit boards

TracXon, a deeptech spin-off from TNO, has raised €4.75 million (approx. $5.50 million) in seed funding to accelerate the industrialization of hybrid printed electronics (HPE). This groundbreaking technology offers a sustainable and more material-efficient alternative to traditional printed circuit boards (PCBs). PCBs are one of the most polluting components in electronics. The investment round was led by DeepTechXL, with participation from Invest-NL and the Brabant Development Agency (BOM). BOM is continuing its support after a previous pre-seed investment in TracXon.

TracXon was founded in 2022 and has successfully transitioned from laboratory to industrial production of HPE. Last year, the startup won a Gerard & Anton Award as one of the most promising initiatives in the Brainport region. With a CO₂ footprint five times lower and twelve times less material use, TracXon's technology provides a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional PCB technologies that are intensive and extensive. These reductions contribute directly to the development of a circular economy and a more sustainable digital industry.

G&A winner TracXon wants to make hybrid printed electronics the standard

This week we are highlighting the winners of the Gerard and Anton Awards. Today: TracXon.

Read More

20 customers

In three years, TracXon has supported more than 20 customers from 10 countries in co-developing and manufacturing their HPE products. TracXon uses roll-to-roll (R2R) production capabilities for this purpose. The end applications range from compact industrial and portable Internet of Things (IoT) devices to large-scale applications (>1 m²). Examples include LED films for displays and lighting.

TracXon is using the seed investment to build its patented equipment. This will enable the creation of multi-layer and double-sided HPE, starting with the first R2R VIA Printer of its kind. This machine enables vertical connections between circuit layers on both sides of a substrate roll – an important step in sustainable electronics production. The 2R VIA Printer is expected to be launched in mid-2027.

“TracXon is bringing about a fundamental change in electronics manufacturing,” said Ashok Sridhar, co-founder and CEO. "From traditional and polluting to efficient and sustainable. This investment round brings us closer to our goal of replacing at least 10% of PCBs with our HPE technology by 2033. This represents approximately €15 billion worth of circuits per year. Our technology is a huge step towards ‘ubiquitous electronics’ – electronics that are all around us – in a socially responsible way."

According to Hans Boumans, director of TNO Ventures, TracXon is a good example of how TNO innovations can grow into impactful businesses. “TNO invests in technologies that make the world a better place, and TracXon directly contributes to a more sustainable future by fundamentally changing how electronics are produced.”