Strategic Partnerships · Fundraising Support · Deep Tech Commercialization
I help deep tech startups land their first strategic partnerships, structure the deals that define their company, and get positioned for the capital they need to scale.
Advisory work for founders turning breakthrough materials science and hardware into a commercial company. I work with you from first customer conversations through institutional fundraising.
How I Help
Four ways I work with founders
Engagements are scoped to where you actually are. That could mean first partner conversations, term sheet negotiation, or the move from prototype to production.
Partnerships
Strategic Partnership Development
Identify the right corporate and commercial partners and get you in front of decision-makers. I help you evaluate fit, shape the partnership structure (joint development, licensing, manufacturing agreements), and manage the relationship through execution.
Fundraising
Fundraising Strategy & Positioning
Sharpen your investor narrative, build your data room, and position your technology and traction for institutional and strategic capital. I translate deep technical work into a story investors can underwrite.
Terms
Deal Terms & Financial Strategy
Negotiation and structuring for the moments that define your cap table and economics: investment terms, revenue-share and licensing economics, equipment vs. services structuring, and how to avoid giving away more than you need to.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing & Scale-Up Strategy
Build your own facility, use a contract manufacturer, or structure a manufacturing partnership? I've done all three, across multiple companies and geographies, and can help you find the right path from prototype to production.
Current Work
Current engagements
I provide strategic advisory support to a portfolio of early-stage deep tech and hardware companies, spanning fundraising strategy, strategic and commercial deal structuring, negotiation, and financial strategy. Current and recent engagements include:
Volumetric additive manufacturing, producing complete 3D structures using patented photopolymerization technology.
UV-harvesting window film for building-integrated solar energy.
Bio-based plastics and materials.
Electrochemical process for producing sustainable solvents.
Canopy ↗
Consumer app for food contaminant testing.
Ameen K. Saafir
Founder, Saafir LLC
Background
20+ years scaling advanced materials, lab to factory floor
Repeat operator across the full path from university spinout to full-scale production, in displays, electrochromics, and additive manufacturing.
2020 – 2026
Tynt TechnologiesCEO & Co-Founder
University spinout. Raised $23M from institutional and strategic investors. Structured a strategic partnership with VELUX. Took advanced materials commercialization from lab to product.
2012 – 2020
Halio (Kinestral Technologies)Chief Engineer / Sr. Director, Business Development
Scaled electrochromic window technology from R&D to full-scale production. Commissioned a 4M sq ft/year facility in Taiwan at >90% yield. Led business development with SK, AGC, Katerra, and Foxconn.
2005 – 2011
DuPont DisplaysSenior Process Engineer
Led joint development with Samsung on solution-processed OLED display technology.
2003 – 2005
Samsung ElectronicsR&D Engineer, OLED Group
Early member of Samsung's OLED group. Contributed to the world's first 40" AMOLED display.
2003
Stanford UniversityMaterials Science & Engineering
MS & BS, Materials Science & Engineering.
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