Harris & Harris Group, Inc., has invested $1.7 million in HzO, Inc., as part of a $7 million Series B Preferred financing. HzO, Inc., manufactures novel industrial coatings. The company is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The HzO technology is a unique process to create a nanoscale coatings that protects electronics against damage caused by exposure to water, which is the leading cause of lost function in electronics.

The coating is transparent and can be applied to a variety of surfaces including plastic, metal and glass. In addition to water repellence, the coating can repel oils, synthetic fluids, hazardous materials, dust and dirt. HzO is planning to roll out its first HzO-coated consumer electronic devices with its partner ZAGG, Inc., in the near term, and integrate its technology in multiple industries including automotive, first responder devices, military devices and vehicles, solar energy, and industrial applications.

Harris & Harris Group, Inc., is a publicly traded venture capital firm exclusively focused on investing in companies enabled by nanotechnology and microsystems. With over 30 nanotechnology companies in their portfolio, Harris & Harris Group, Inc., is one of the most active nanotechnology investors in the world.