# Solarcore®

> Solarcore® is a Portland, Oregon materials company that infuses NASA-licensed aerogel - the lowest-thermal-conductivity solid ever made - into flexible foam, then sells it as an ingredient to brands that need warmth without bulk. Founded by Michael Markesbery and Rithvik Venna (originally as the apparel startup Oros/Lukla in 2015), the company pivoted from selling jackets to selling the material inside them. Its Sc_Foam now shows up in Merrell boots, Helly Hansen gear, U.S. military shelters, EV battery packs and HVAC systems.

- **Founded:** 2015
- **Headquarters:** Portland, Oregon, United States
- **Founders:** Michael Markesbery (CEO & Co-Founder), Rithvik Venna (COO & Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~29 employees (grew from roughly 15 to the high 20s across 2024-2025)
- **Products:** Sc_Foam, Sc_Foam_FR, Sc_Foam_US
- **Notable:** Solved a long-standing materials problem: incorporating brittle, shedding aerogel into flexible, durable closed-cell foam that survives compression, folding and real-world use., Raised $22 million in Series B funding led by Airbus Ventures (April 2024)., Landed marquee brand partners including Merrell and Helly Hansen plus U.S. military programs.

## Products & services

- **Sc_Foam** — The flagship aerogel-infused foam: a proprietary composite made by infusing aerogel 'slurry' into flexible NBR-style foam, delivering high thermal performance without the loft of traditional insulation. Engineered to drop into existing manufacturing workflows.
- **Sc_Foam_FR** — A fire-retardant version built for EV battery thermal management, HVAC and energy-storage applications, combining thermal performance with safety in high-heat environments.
- **Sc_Foam_US** — An ultra-thin foam insulation infused with aerogel, developed for military and defense applications including shelter and storage programs.

## Achievements

- Solved a long-standing materials problem: incorporating brittle, shedding aerogel into flexible, durable closed-cell foam that survives compression, folding and real-world use.
- Raised $22 million in Series B funding led by Airbus Ventures (April 2024).
- Landed marquee brand partners including Merrell and Helly Hansen plus U.S. military programs.
- Grew from a Kickstarter apparel startup into a multi-industry B2B materials company.
- Featured in NASA Spinoff for bringing spacecraft-grade aerogel insulation to consumer outerwear.

## Latest updates

- **2024-04** — OROS Labs, creators of Solarcore®, secured $22 million in Series B funding led by Airbus Ventures.
- **2024-11** — Released a fire-retardant version of its aerogel foam (Sc_Foam_FR) for EV batteries and HVAC.
- **2025** — Expanded team and pushed further into HVAC, battery and government markets from its Portland base.

## Links

- Website: https://solarcore.tech
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/solarcoretech
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/solarcoretech
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarcore.tech

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/solarcore
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Last updated: 2026-08-19