Bspkl

Bspkl is a New Zealand-based deep-tech startup and manufacturer of high-performance catalyst coated membranes (CCMs), a critical component in hydrogen production via electrolysis. The company describes itself as New Zealand's first deep-tech hydrogen startup, positioning its work at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Its core product line is CCMs designed for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, with stated plans to expand into anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology, fuel cells, and other energy-related technologies. Bspkl's central technical claim is a dramatic reduction in the use of precious group metals (PGMs). According to the company, its CCMs use roughly twenty-five times less catalyst metal than conventional approaches, with a total PGM catalyst loading of 0.122 mg/cm², of which 0.089 mg/cm² is iridium. Iridium is one of the scarcest and most expensive platinum-group metals and a key cost and supply bottleneck for PEM electrolysers, so reducing iridium loading is a significant commercial and strategic objective in the hydrogen industry. Beyond catalyst loading, Bspkl emphasizes a scalable manufacturing system capable of producing CCMs at volume without the risk of delamination or cracking of the catalyst layer. The company states that its manufacturing approach produces no waste water and no harmful by-products, and can be powered by renewable energy. This combination of low material use and cleaner production is presented as the basis for a more sustainable and cost-effective supply of electrolyser components. The company is led by co-founders Christina Houlihan, who serves as Chief Executive Officer, and Jérôme Leveneur, who serves as Chief Technology Officer. Houlihan's background spans commercialisation of technology, strategy development, and risk mitigation across biotechnology and new energy technologies. Leveneur is an ion beam materials scientist specialising in the modification of material surfaces. Bspkl presents itself as a dynamic, innovation-driven startup with ambitions to scale and to open pathways for scientists and future startups in New Zealand. Bspkl operates in the emerging clean-hydrogen supply chain, selling to electrolyser manufacturers and the broader hydrogen technology sector. As a privately held startup, it does not disclose public financials, and its ownership structure beyond its founders is not detailed in the available sources. Its stated mission is to activate sustainable change through innovative manufacturing and to make a genuine difference in addressing the climate crisis.

Bspkl is a New Zealand-based deep-tech startup that describes itself as the country's first deep-tech hydrogen startup. The company was founded to commercialise innovative manufacturing approaches for catalyst coated membranes (CCMs), a key component in hydrogen production through electrolysis. Its name, pronounced (bɪˈspɛkəl), is defined by the company as meaning 'to mark or cover with speckles or a large amount of small dots' — a reference to the fine, dispersed catalyst layers central to its technology. The company emerged from a recognition that the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy requires breakthrough innovations in manufacturing, not only in materials science. Bspkl's founders combined commercial and scientific expertise: Christina Houlihan, co-founder and CEO, brought experience in commercialising technology across biotechnology and new energy technologies, with strengths in strategy development, implementation, and risk mitigation; Jérôme Leveneur, co-founder and CTO, is an ion beam materials scientist specialising in the modification of material surfaces. This pairing of commercialisation and materials science underpins the company's approach to developing and scaling CCM production. Bspkl's initial focus is on CCMs for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, the dominant technology for producing green hydrogen. The company states that its manufacturing system can produce CCMs at volume without the risk of delamination or cracking of the catalyst layer, and that the process produces no waste water and no harmful by-products and can be powered by renewable energy. A central technical achievement is the reduction of precious group metal (PGM) catalyst loading: Bspkl reports a total PGM catalyst loading of 0.122 mg/cm², including 0.089 mg/cm² of iridium, which it describes as the lowest known catalyst loading for CCMs and roughly twenty-five times less catalyst metal than conventional products. Because iridium is among the scarcest and most expensive platinum-group metals and a major cost and supply constraint for PEM electrolysers, this reduction is strategically significant for the hydrogen industry. Looking ahead, Bspkl has stated plans to expand beyond PEM electrolysis into anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology, fuel cells, and other energy-related technologies. The company frames its mission as activating sustainable change through innovative manufacturing and aims to open pathways for scientists, startups, and employees in New Zealand. As a privately held startup, it does not publicly disclose detailed financial or ownership information beyond its founding team.

• Bspkl founded in New Zealand as a deep-tech hydrogen startup.

• Company develops catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) for PEM electrolysis with ultra-low PGM loading.

• Bspkl reports total PGM catalyst loading of 0.122 mg/cm², including 0.089 mg/cm² iridium.

• Company announces plans to expand into AEM, fuel cells, and other energy technologies.

Deep-tech hydrogen startup and advanced manufacturer of ultra-low-catalyst-loading CCMs for PEM electrolysis, emphasising scalable, waste-free, renewable-powered production.

• Catalyst Coated Membrane (CCM) for PEM electrolysis

  High-performance CCM with the lowest known catalyst loading, produced via a scalable manufacturing system.

• Low-iridium CCM

  CCM with 0.089 mg/cm² iridium loading and 0.122 mg/cm² total PGM catalyst loading.

1. 1Bspkl official website homepagebspkl.co
2. 2About — bspklbspkl.co
3. 3Bspkl on Wikidatawikidata.org