By SGN | 11 Nov 2025
As a teenager, Nicholas Jose was captivated by nanotechnology, and the idea that new materials could unlock the next wave of innovation.
“Materials are at the core of so many technologies,” he explains. “Take something like the nanoparticles used in vaccines. They might be invisible to the eye, but they make a huge difference in how medicine works.”
His curiosity has taken him from UC Berkeley to Cambridge, and now to Singapore, where he set up his business, Accelerated Materials, a deep-tech company that helps other companies develop and scale new materials faster and more efficiently.
“Being willing to take risks and embrace failure is part of the journey,” he says with a laugh. “I think you just have to be crazy enough to try.”
A foundation built on global experience
Nicholas began his journey at UC Berkeley, where he immersed himself in the fundamentals of materials science, spending long hours in the lab testing new compounds.
After graduation, he moved into R&D in the advanced materials industry, working on applications as diverse as beverage filtration and mosquito nets. “That’s when I realised that scale-up, rather than discovery, is often the biggest challenge in bringing new materials to market,” he reflects.
He then moved to Cambridge to pursue his PhD in chemical engineering, where he shifted his focus shifted from pure research to real-world application. “Berkeley taught me to dream big, and Cambridge showed me how to turn those dreams into something tangible,” he reflects.
In 2016, Nicholas moved to Singapore on a visiting PhD studentship, working at the Cambridge Centre for Advanced Education in Singapore (CARES). The experience offered him a fresh perspective as he was surrounded by world-class talent and state-of-the-art facilities, and he saw first-hand how deeply the city-state values science and technology.
“Singapore is very progressive in its investment in R&D,” he says. “I’ve always been interested in commercialising my work, so this culture of support and respect for research inspired me and made me think seriously about starting my own company here.”
Seeing a real opportunity, Nicholas and his team threw themselves into market research, comparing their technology with existing solutions and uncovering clear advantages in speed and scalability.
“After finishing my PhD, I stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher at CARES in Singapore,” Nicholas recalls. “With support from National Research Foundation grants, I was able to refine the technology and begin scaling it. Those years of research really laid the groundwork for what would become Accelerated Materials.”
When it came time to spin the company out, Nicholas secured an EntrePass, which gave him the chance to remain in Singapore and turn his ideas into a business.
They found that their approach could produce nanomaterials far faster and in much larger quantities than traditional methods. This addressed a common challenge in manufacturing, where scaling up from lab experiments to full production is often slow, costly, and inconsistent.
“That moment when I saw my research start to take shape as something tangible was unforgettable,” he recalls. “It made me realise that what begins in the lab can grow into something that truly impacts the world.”
Launching Accelerated Materials in Singapore
With a clear vision and validated technology, Nicholas knew it was time to take the leap and turn his research into a company.
In 2025, Accelerated Materials officially opened its doors in Singapore. “Our goal is to help other companies develop and scale new materials faster,” he explains. “In simple terms, we want to make it easier for innovations that start in the lab to reach the real world.”
Singapore quickly proved to be the perfect place to launch Accelerated Materials.
“I’d been thinking about setting up in Singapore ever since my time as a visiting PhD student, but being a student is very different from being a founder,” Nicholas recalls.
“From the moment we started, I felt that Singapore genuinely respects science and research. I feel like it’s a culture that doesn’t just talk about innovation; it invests in it.”
In fact, that very investment made all the difference in the early days. Nicholas and his team tapped into the Central Gap Fund from the National Research Foundation, which supports researchers in upgrading capabilities and bringing innovative ideas to market.
“Those early resources gave us the breathing space to test prototypes, refine our processes, and really explore what our technology could do,” he says. “Without that support, taking the leap from lab research to a scalable business would have been much harder.”
Moreover, setting up in Singapore also made strategic sense on a global level. “Being here means we can connect easily with teams and collaborators across Asia, Europe, and the Americas,” Nicholas explains.
But what struck him the most about the entire process was how practical and welcoming the entire process was.
“Finding talented people, meeting mentors, connecting with investors, it all just clicked,” he recalls. “I remember my first week trying to assemble a team and being amazed at how open and helpful everyone was. It made the whole process feel possible rather than overwhelming.”
Much of this support came through the networks he had already built at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CARES and NTU, where he tapped into NTUitive’s entrepreneurial community.
Beyond academia, he threw himself into the wider ecosystem, reaching out at trade shows, conferences and exhibitions such as SWITCH, and even cold calling to build connections.
That persistence has already paid off. Nicholas is especially proud of two milestones so far: securing seed funding and validating a scalable reactor system.
The system can take a material from just a tiny gram in the lab and scale it up to a full ton in only a few months. “Normally, getting from a small experiment to large-scale production can take years or even decades,” he explains.
Nicholas highlights what this means in real life. “It lets us make things like better batteries, advanced electronics, or new ways to deliver medicines much faster. Watching an idea grow from a small test to something people can actually use is what makes this work so exciting.”
He continues with a smile, “Geographical convenience aside, Singapore is the place where the right mix of support, talent, and connections can turn a deep-tech startup from a dream into reality.”
Building a home in Singapore
Having already spent time in Singapore as a visiting PhD student, Nicholas found that settling in long-term was smoother than he expected.
“Being here as a student definitely helped me get my bearings, but living and working in Singapore is a whole different experience,” he says. “There’s a shift from being a visitor, to taking on responsibility for a business and building a life here.”
Running a deep-tech company while keeping up with research and global collaborations demands focus and routine. “My day usually starts with a check-in with the team to align priorities,” he explains. “After that, it’s a mix of operations, keeping in touch with customers, and working on fundraising and investor relations.”
Outside work, the adjustments were mostly practical.
“The heat was the only real challenge at first,” he laughs. “Beyond that, I discovered that the things I love doing back in the US and UK, like running, hiking, exploring, were all possible here too.”
Nicholas has also embraced the lighter side of life in Singapore. He savours the city’s rich food scene and finds calm in green spaces like MacRitchie Reservoir and Henderson Waves. “I’m not much of a mall person, so having places to escape the city is really important,” he says.
Equally important to him has been building a community that supports both his personal life and professional journey. “Starting a company in a new country can feel isolating, so connecting with people early on was crucial,” he says.
Nicholas credits relationships formed during his time as a student and researcher for helping him establish a network of friends and collaborators in Singapore. He actively engages with professional and research networks, including the Singapore Global Network, and keeps close ties with colleagues from NUS and Cambridge.
“I make a point of connecting people within my network, meeting collaborators at conferences, and keeping up friendships that have grown alongside the business,” he explains.
“These communities have been invaluable, not just for professional support, but also for helping me feel at home while building something meaningful in a new country.”
Advice and reflections
Looking ahead, Nicholas is most excited about the full launch of Accelerated Materials’ reactor system, which can scale a material from a gram to a ton, thus dramatically shortening the timeline for commercialisation.
“When I think back to the early days in a small lab and now see our systems being used by companies like 3M and Pfizer, it feels incredibly rewarding,” he says. “It is a reminder of why we started this journey in the first place.”
For international founders considering Singapore, he highlights that patience and adaptability are key. He also offers practical advice for researchers considering starting their own company.
“Focus on the problem, not just the technology. Ask yourself what you are really trying to solve and let the science follow. Money should not be the main motivator. What matters is making a difference.”
“Running a deep-tech startup alongside research is never easy. You must prioritise what truly matters and let go of details that can wait,” he explains. “Some days feel chaotic, but maintaining a clear focus keeps the team moving forward.”
About Nicholas
Nicholas Jose is the Founder and CEO of Accelerated Materials in Singapore, scaling nanotechnology through self-driving labs and process intensification. A Cambridge PhD and Research Fellow, he combines scientific expertise with a drive to turn lab innovations into real-world solutions.
Connect with him here.
