Milan's Phononic Vibes Raises $27M to Make Noise Control Lighter

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-23

Milan-based Phononic Vibes just raised €25 million (about $27 million) to expand its noise and vibration control technology. The company, a spin-off from Politecnico di Milano, has already caught the attention of big names like Deutsche Bahn and Mercedes-Benz. And now, with fresh capital from Jolt Capital and others, it's ready to scale. ### The Funding Round The round was led by Jolt Capital, a Paris-based private equity firm focused on DeepTech growth companies. Jolt invested through its Jolt Capital V fund, which is targeting €1 billion and nearing its final close. Other participants included Eureka! Venture SGR, CDP Venture Capital SGR, and Simest SpA. As part of the deal, 360 Capital's stake, held since the seed round, was acquired. Back in 2020, Phononic Vibes had raised €2.3 million. Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner at Jolt Capital, said, "Noise control is reaching a turning point. Conventional products have hit their physical limit, and infrastructure needs quieter assets with less weight and space." He added that Phononic Vibes combines breakthrough science, a patented design engine, and manufacturing at scale. This marks Jolt Capital V's first investment in Italy. ### Breaking the Mass Law So what makes Phononic Vibes special? Traditional noise barriers, enclosures, and silencers all follow the mass law: more quiet means more material. Phononic Vibes claims to break that law by using metamaterials—structures whose shape does the work that mass used to do. Their products weigh up to 30% less while delivering the same acoustic performance, or they perform better at the same weight. At the heart of the company is a proprietary design engine protected by 18 patent families. "It turns the physics of metamaterials into certified products, drawing on application libraries that grow with every project," the company explained in a press release. This means each new market starts from proven designs rather than a blank sheet. ### Proven in the Real World The company isn't just talking theory. Deutsche Bahn certified its transparent noise barrier for the German rail network—the first see-through panel rated as highly absorbing. Mercedes-Benz uses its technology in series production, which Phononic Vibes says is the first metamaterial in a series-production car. Contractors like Webuild and Eteria choose its barriers because they install faster. And revenue has doubled every year since 2018, reaching break-even in 2025. Luca D'Alessandro, CEO and co-founder, said, "Weight has always been the price of quiet. We have shown it is a design choice, with two of Europe's most demanding customers." He also thanked 360 Capital for believing in them from the early days when they were still working at desks at Politecnico di Milano. ### What's Next? With the new capital, Phononic Vibes plans to scale its design engine internationally, expand into new applications, and strengthen delivery capabilities. Targeted acquisitions will also complement this strategy by extending the reach of its technology and bringing additional industrial capabilities. The company's journey from a university spin-off to a player with global ambitions is a testament to European deeptech. As noise and vibration control becomes more critical in urban infrastructure, data centers, and transportation, Phononic Vibes is positioning itself as a leader in lighter, more efficient solutions.