What it is
InventWood is a privately held materials company in Frederick, Maryland. Its product, Superwood, comes out of research that began in 2013 in Dr. Liangbing Hu's lab at the University of Maryland on engineering wood at the nanoscale. The company's timeline cites a 2018 Nature paper on densified wood, a 2021 result above 1 GPa of strength, and the commercial launch of Superwood in 2025. InventWood reports 144 patents filed and 41 granted or allowed.
The product
According to the technology page, Superwood is made by chemically modifying wood with food-safe chemicals and then compressing it with precision-controlled densification, which the company says raises density up to four times and bonds the cellulose fibers. InventWood claims up to ten times the strength-to-weight of steel, a Class A fire rating, resistance to moisture, termites and rot, and a carbon footprint 90 percent lower than steel. These are company figures; the site notes that structural use is not yet approved under building codes and that third-party testing is ongoing.
Applications and availability
Superwood Interiors targets wall paneling, ceilings, cabinetry, doors, trim, furniture and stairs. Superwood XP, described as coming soon, targets siding, decking, fencing and other exterior uses and can achieve a Class A rating under ASTM E84. The company says its Frederick facility has capacity for over one million square feet a year, that current capacity is fully allocated, and that buyers can place a fully refundable deposit on its reserve page. Pricing is positioned against premium hardwoods, and it currently ships within the U.S., with international orders reviewed case by case. More use cases are listed on the applications page.
Funding and how to engage
InventWood lists a $20 million U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E SCALEUP award announced in 2022, an earlier ARPA-E OPEN award, a DARPA grant, and a Series A round in 2025 with no disclosed amount. It was named to Fast Company's World Changing Ideas list in 2025. The company invites partners in building materials, design, architecture, distribution and construction, as well as investor inquiries, through its contact page or information@inventwood.com.
Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem
InventWood is a clear example of a University of Maryland lab technology moving through federal research funding into manufacturing in Frederick County. For hardware and climate founders, it shows how ARPA-E and DARPA awards can carry a deep tech company toward production before and alongside venture capital, and it is a potential partner or supplier for builders and designers in the region.
