As we close out 2025, we’re proud to spotlight South 8 Technologies, a portfolio company that exemplifies Anzu’s conviction in fundamental materials innovation paired with real-world manufacturability and strong market pull.
South 8 recently announced $11M in additional financing led by Lockheed Martin Ventures and W. L. Gore & Associates. The round will accelerate production of South 8’s proprietary LiGas® battery technology, purpose-built for defense, aerospace, and other extreme-environment applications where performance and reliability are mission-critical.
When we first met the South 8 team a few years ago, we immediately recognized something rare in the battery world: a fundamentally new electrolyte platform delivering differentiated performance across multiple dimensions. Not incremental gains, but true breakthroughs in cold-temperature operation, power capability, safety, and manufacturability. That conviction led Anzu to lead South 8’s Series A in December 2021, and we were pleased to continue our support in this latest round alongside industry leaders who deeply understand the demands of advanced defense and aerospace systems.
While lithium-ion batteries have become more affordable and more energy dense over the last decade, reliable performance in extreme cold remains one of the industry’s most persistent challenges. Solving cold-temperature performance is a gateway to unlocking entirely new markets and use cases. That urgency is rising fastest in the Arctic, which is becoming a more strategically important region for allied defense and aerospace missions. In extreme cold, conventional batteries can lose usable power rapidly or fail outright, forcing teams to improvise warming, insulation, and workarounds that add weight, complexity, and mission risk. As the Army has highlighted, uninsulated batteries can drain in minutes at Arctic temperatures, and that growingreliability gap is exactly what South 8’s LiGas® platform is built to solve.
South 8’s LiGas® liquefied gas electrolyteis fundamentally distinct from conventional carbonate-based electrolytes or solid-state systems, with a freezing point below −100°C, high-voltage stability above 5V, exceptional power performance, and drop-in compatibility with today’s lithium-ion manufacturing infrastructure. The result is a platform that extends where batteries can go and operate efficiently, without reinventing the supply chain. Additionally, the company has built a robust IP portfolio spanning 55+ patents, with broad coverage across liquefied gas electrolytes—including composition, delivery methods, containment, and manufacturing processes.
That differentiated technology is now translating into commercial momentum. In recent months, South 8 announced a strategic partnership with LG Energy Solution to develop next-generation space-rated batteries, as well as a Letter of Intent with CTNS, a battery solutions provider from South Korea, to pursue advanced battery systems for defense and aerospace customers, and a LOI with Galvion, a leader in defense related energy applications to enable extreme cold mission capabilities. These markets value performance first, move quickly, and provide a clear on-ramp to scaled adoption.
In our view, South 8 represents a rare convergence of deep materials science, manufacturing pragmatism, strong market pull, and defensible IP. We’re excited to support the team as they continue to scale their impact alongside established, strategic partners. We look forward to sharing additional updates in 2026!
Sincerely, Josh Stiling, Principal, Anzu Partners and Jimmy Kan, Partner, Anzu Partners
PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
6K Additive Secured A$48 Million Through Initial Public Offering on the Australian Stock Exchange
6K Additive, a global leader in advanced metal powders and alloy additions, announced the successful completion of its IPO on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), raising A$48m at an offer price of A$1.00 per CDI.
The IPO attracted strong support from a range of new institutional, family office and sophisticated investors in Australia and overseas, together with existing shareholders. Trusted by leading organizations across aerospace, defense, space, medical, energy, and automotive sectors, 6K Additive plans to use the newly secured capital to support its expansion plan to better serve its growing customer base and broaden its product offerings.
Niron Magnetics Partnered with Moog Inc. to Produce Rare-Earth-Free Actuator Designs for Defense Applications
Niron Magnetics and Moog Inc.(NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems, announced a collaboration to bring advanced actuator solutions for guided munitions systems to market.
Through this collaboration, Niron Magnetics and Moog are developing and testing advanced technologies for defense systems, while reducing the use of rare earths. Moog is evaluating the potential use of Niron Magnetics’ breakthrough Iron Nitride magnet technology in applications that enable the transformation of electric input signals into precise mechanical motion.
Navier Raised $5.6M in Seed Funding and Launched from Stealth
Navier, which builds autonomous engineering teams for hardware design and development, announced $5.6 million in seed funding and its launch from stealth. The round included participation from GV (Google Ventures), HCVC, and Y Combinator.
Built on autonomous vehicle technology from SpaceX, Tesla, and Aurora experts, Navier’s agents leverage computer vision and spatial reasoning to interpret 3D geometry and automatically align design concepts with engineering validation needs. Further, Navier’s ADE platform enables continuous validation through parallel testing and automated reporting, allowing teams to catch design-engineering misalignments.
The funding will support platform development and expansion across aerospace and automotive companies, where ADE represents the next performance increase after CAD and simulation.
Codetta Bio™ Expanded Global Commercial Leadership to Accelerate Adoption of the Concerto™ System
Dr. Jay Manikandan
Vice President, Commercial (AMEA)
Jay Gerlach,
Vice President, Global Marketing
Codetta Bio™, a leading innovator in multi-omic solutions, announced a significant expansion of its global commercial organization. This strategic move strengthens the company’s ability to meet growing demand for its Concerto™ system as Codetta transitions from its Technology Access Program (TAP) to full commercial launch.
To support this next phase of growth, Codetta has appointed two seasoned industry leaders:
Dr. Jay Manikandan, Vice President, Commercial (AMEA) - Based in Singapore, Dr. Manikandan will spearhead commercial operations across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He brings extensive experience in building high-performing sales networks, with prior leadership roles at 10x Genomics, NanoString, Bruker Spatial Biology, and Sphere Bio.
Jay Gerlach, Vice President, Global Marketing - Mr. Gerlach will lead global marketing and product management initiatives, with a focus on ensuring customers worldwide realize the full benefits of the Concerto platform.
Please reach out to info@anzupartners.com if you’re interested in meeting with us at any of these events.
ADDITIONAL PC MEDIA COVERAGE
Anzu Partners was featured in an Impact Alpha* article on New Mexico’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. Anzu was also featured in year in review articles on 3D Printing from 3D Printing Industry, and 3D Printing Journal.
Niron Magnetics was the focus of a feature in Fast Company, and was included in Bloomberg* andThe Hill articles on China and rare earths.
BioSkryb Genomics was featured in a News Medical article on single cell sequencing.
South 8 Technologies funding news was featured in The Electric*.
XGS Energy was featured in an MIT Tech Review article on climate news highlights from 2025. XGS CEO Josh Prueher had an interview with Renewable Energy Magazine on its technology and what’s next. The company was also featured in a WBURarticle on geothermal energy and hot rocks.
OTI Lumionics was featured in a Gadget Hacks article about under display Face ID in the iPhone 18.
Voltaiq was featured in an Automobile Magazine article about challenges and opportunities ahead for the industry.
*Requires subscription to read
Join Our Ecosystem
Anzu Partners and our portfolio companies are growing, and we’re always looking for exceptional talent. Whether you're seeking new career opportunities or exploring ways to collaborate, we invite you to connect with us and become part of our network.
To stay up to date on the latest news from both Anzu and our portfolio companies, follow us on social media.
ABOUT ANZU PARTNERS
Anzu Partners is an investment firm that focuses on industrial and life science technology companies with the potential to transform their industries. Anzu works with entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize technological innovations by providing capital alongside deep experience in business development, market positioning, intellectual property, global connectivity, and operations. For more information, please visit https://anzupartners. com/.
The information contained in this newsletter is being provided by Anzu Partners for informational purposes only. The information was obtained from various sources, but Anzu Partners cannot assure its accuracy. This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation for an offer to buy an interest in any fund managed by Anzu Partners. Any such offer or solicitation will only be made to qualified potential investors pursuant to a private placement memorandum. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.
You are receiving this email because you requested to be added to Anzu Partners' monthly newsletter distribution list.
