US firm creates timber 10 times tougher than steel

May 14, 2025

A biotech startup from the U.S. is aiming to reshape the construction industry with the launch of a groundbreaking new material that mimics the look and feel of natural wood while outperforming high-grade steel in strength and durability.

Maryland-based firm InventWood, revealed that their engineering wood product called Superwood is a result of molecular-level transformation that turns natural wood into a material up to a dozen times stronger and 10 times tougher than its original form.

According to the company, which recently closed a USD 15 million Series A funding round to begin commercial shipments from its production facility in Frederick between July and September 2025, the material boasts a strength-to-weight ratio nearly 10 times greater the steel.

The fire-resistant, water-repellent, rot-proof and pest-resistant tech reportedly emerged from research led by Liangbing Hu, PhD, a materials scientist and distinguished professor at the University of Maryland, whose former work focused on carbon nanotube innovation.

Science meets nature

To design the innovative material, Hu and his team selectively removed specific components of the wood’s cellular structure and compressed it under precise conditions. The approach resulted in a biogenic composite that maintains all the desirable features of wood, including warmth, texture, workability, and natural aesthetic, while enhancing its performance far beyond traditional limits.

“Superwood demonstrates what’s possible when we combine nature’s most highly evolved structure with revolutionary science,” Alex Lau, InventWood CEO said, adding that the funding will enable the company to scale the material’s production.

Meanwhile, American environmentalist and entrepreneur Paul Hawken praised the material as “an extraordinary breakthrough that exalts the genius of the natural world,” adding that he envisions it shaping the future of the construction industry worldwide.

The most recent funding round brings the company’s total raised capital to more than USD 50 million, much of it coming from major public and private sources, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, Grantham Foundation, Builders Vision, JLL Foundation, and Baruch Future Ventures.

Building a greener future

The company revealed that the new capital will support their first commercial-scale manufacturing operation, which will focus on producing the material for residential and commercial applications.

“We’re prioritizing domestic sourcing and production to maintain the exacting standards Superwood requires,” Lau concluded in a press release. “With commercial shipments beginning in Q3 of this year, we’re focused on ensuring every step of our process, from forest to final product, delivers uncompromising quality while supporting American manufacturing.”

InventWood highlighted that this will not only support local economies but also reduce emissions and logistics risks associated with overseas manufacturing. To ensure a smooth rollout across North America, the firm recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Intectural, a major supplier of high-performance architectural materials.

They emphasized that their product comes at a time when the U.S. is actively seeking sustainable, locally produced alternatives to imported materials like steel and aluminum. They believe it can offer the construction industry a high-performance, eco-friendly material that doesn’t compromise on beauty, strength, or design flexibility, all while meeting the demands of climate resilience and affordability in modern architecture.