Jake Paul Backs US Titanium Revival

American Advanced Materials (AAM), a Silicon Valley startup, is poised to re-establish domestic titanium sponge production in the United States. The company recently closed a $12.5 million seed funding round, co-led by Amity Ventures LLC and supported by Anti Fund, co-founded by Jake Paul and Geoffrey Woo. This capital will fuel team expansion and the design of a commercial titanium sponge plant.

The US currently produces no titanium sponge, relying entirely on imports, which reached a record 44,000 tons in 2025, primarily from Japan. AAM's initiative aims to fill this critical supply-chain gap for a metal essential in aerospace and defense applications.

Co-founder and CEO Alex Liegl stated that the timing is ideal for a new entrant to capitalize on geopolitical shifts impacting supply chains. AAM has assembled a team with expertise from former producers like Timet and ATI Inc., alongside engineers from Tesla Inc. The company is considering locations on the US Gulf Coast for its plant, targeting an initial capacity of 20,000 tons per year.

AAM has also secured letters of intent exceeding $1 billion for future output, encompassing titanium sponge and zirconium oxychloride. Prospective customers include domestic melters and alloy makers serving the aerospace, defense, energy, and AI sectors, with AAM aiming for globally competitive pricing.