Seprify, a Fribourg-based biomaterials firm creating high-performance cellulose-based components for industrial purposes, right now introduced that it has raised €13.4 million (CHF 12.25 million) in Sequence A funding.
Supported by this funding, the corporate has additionally introduced the transition of its cellulose platform from pilot validation into procurement-ready industrial provide. This permits producers to maneuver from trials into repeatable sourcing and longer-term business agreements.
The spherical was supported by a mix of strategic and monetary traders with expertise in industrial scale-up. It contains participation from Inter IKEA Group, together with traders Una Terra Early Development Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Kickfund, and different traders aligned with the round financial system.
“This funding allows us to concentrate on execution and scale. Our speedy precedence is delivering constant high quality and dependable provide, assembly the operational requirements massive industrial clients require. Within the close to time period, meaning supporting cosmetics and private care, together with suncare, in addition to meals and pet meals. We’re additionally scaling for higher-volume purposes comparable to coatings, inks and printed electronics, reflecting the broader potential of our cellulose platform,” stated Lukas Schertel, co-founder and CEO of Seprify.
Based in 2022 as a spin-out of the College of Cambridge and the College of Fribourg, Seprify rework cellulose, the earth’s most ample biopolymer, right into a high-performance, plant-based purposeful ingredient.
Its nature-inspired know-how provides secure, biodegradable substitutes for conventional whiteners and texturisers, permitting manufacturers to minimize dependence on titanium dioxide and fossil-derived polymers with out compromising efficiency.
In line with the corporate, its materials design has been impressed by the ultra-thin, good white construction discovered within the scales of the Cyphochilus beetle.
The corporate’s flagship product grades embody SilvaLuma™, a cellulose-based SPF booster for cosmetics and private care, and SilvaAlba™, a food-grade whitening answer designed as a scalable different to titanium dioxide.
Seprify notes that its cellulose platform is supported by Inter IKEA Group and has been validated at Know-how Readiness Stage (TRL) 7–9 by means of hands-on collaboration with trade companions and is now progressing by means of provider qualification processes, early business contracts and procurement discussions throughout cosmetics and private care, meals and pet meals, and coatings.
The corporate is presently working with over 100 buyer organisations, starting from lively evaluations to early business provide.
Robert Carleke, Innovation Ventures Supervisor at Inter IKEA Group, commented, “At IKEA, we search for options that may realistically substitute high-impact incumbent supplies whereas becoming into current manufacturing and recycling programs. Seprify’s cellulose platform has reached a degree of maturity that makes this a reputable path to discover — not just for particular purposes comparable to coatings and floor finishes, however as a scalable supplies platform with the consistency and operational readiness required for industrial use. We’re wanting ahead to this exploratory venture.”
With the brand new capital, the Swiss firm intends to develop business manufacturing to tons of of tonnes yearly by means of established manufacturing companions, help business rollout throughout its key markets, and advance engineering work for future industrial-scale capability. For patrons, this transition permits shifting from analysis and trials to constant provide, facilitating formal procurement discussions and long-term sourcing choices.
