Pascal Raises $8.5M for Solid-State Cooling Tech That Boosts Efficiency 20%

Pascal, a startup developing solid-state refrigerant materials, has raised $8.5 million in a follow-on to its seed round, co-led by Sazze Partners and LB Investment with participation from KDB Silicon Valley. The company says its technology can make refrigerators and heat pumps roughly 20% more efficient than existing models. The funding closed earlier than planned after Pascal secured a pilot contract with a multinational beverage company. CEO Adam Slavney expects to deliver a first prototype early next year, with polished refrigerators following in 2028. The material has been cycled up to 300,000 times, equivalent to about a year of operation. Pascal's system compresses carbon dioxide into a cartridge containing a proprietary sponge-like material, transferring heat as gas molecules collide within the pores. Because the material cannot escape into the atmosphere, it avoids the ozone and greenhouse gas concerns associated with gaseous refrigerants like Freon and R-134a.