Ravenbrick LLC.

• Author: Peterson, Eric
• Position: TECH STARTUP OF THE MONTH

INITIAL LIGHT BULB:

While serving as an editor for Wired magazine in 2001, journalist/aerospace engineer Wil McCarthy wrote a story on "programmable matter"--objects that could be altered via an external input of some kind--which he followed up with a book, "Hacking Matter," published in 2003.

Later that year, Michael Barnstijn, cofounder of Blackberry maker Research In Motion, read the book and was so impressed that he staked McCarthy with $1 million to start a programmable-matter company, the aptly named Programmable Matter Corp.

Emerging as the self-described "de facto expert" on programmable matter, McCarthy left his full-time gig at Wired to focus on the startup. He first turned to his aerospace engineering background to develop a backup spacecraft sensor made of programmable matter.

However, the narrow focus and lengthy sales cycles led the company toward other commercial possibilities in the field. In 2006, McCarthy connected with serial entrepreneur Alex Burney. After consulting for Programmable Matter Corp., Burney started a second company, RavenBrick LLC, which bought Programmable Matter and targeted the construction-materials market. Burney is chief executive officer; McCarthy serves as president.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Slated for a 2008 market debut, RavenBrick's two key products, RavenWindow and RavenWall, are windows and wall panels made of proprietary "magic sauce" of filters and films, Burney said.

Both products make for much more energy-efficient buildings by reflecting light when it is hot outside and allowing light in when it is cold. RavenWall goes a step further, absorbing heat during peak afternoon times and radiating it after the sun has gone down, lowering demand for both air conditioning and heating.

"Johns Manville would view this as disruptive," Burney said. "We've always been focused on keeping the elements out, but why? Sometimes that is the opposite of what you want to do. Let's harness the energy outside and bring it inside."

Insulation holds in summer heat, added McCarthy, "increasing your disconnection with the outside. Extreme weather is not happening most of the time." He noted that a RavenWall's surface temperature holds "very steady" year-round when...