Oxford-based supplies science startup A&B Smart Materials (A&B) has closed its €1.7 million (£1.5 million) “closely oversubscribed” pre-Seed spherical to switch the artificial sustainable superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) utilized in hygiene merchandise and agriculture.
The funding spherical’s principal buyers embrace current backer Sake Bosch, alongside new strategic buyers, Caesar and Dwelling Hope VC. Archipelago Ventures, Triple Impression Ventures, Cranfield College Seed Fund, Oxford Seed Fund, and several other enterprise angels from the Cambridge Capital Group and Oxford Innovation Finance additionally participated on this spherical.
“This funding provides us the momentum to speed up our progress, strengthen our crew with distinctive expertise and take the following crucial steps towards delivering sustainable absorbents that can profit thousands and thousands of individuals within the years forward. It marks an necessary milestone on our journey towards remodeling an business that urgently wants change,” stated Amaury van Trappen, co-founder and CEO, A&B Good Supplies.
Based by Amaury van Trappen and Dr Benjamin White, A&B’s long-term objective is to switch artificial SAP formulations in a market that’s projected to hit €14.4 billion ($17 billion) by 2035. The widely-used artificial SAPs are non-biodegradable, petroleum-based, and accumulate within the setting as microplastics; contributing to one of many world’s most urgent air pollution challenges by contaminating soils, waterways, and oceans.
A&B develops sustainable superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), the crucial supplies utilized in disposable diapers and sanitary merchandise to soak up liquid. SAPs are additionally utilized in agriculture to boost soil water retention throughout dry spells. It claims that its plant-based SAPs are designed to interrupt down naturally, leaving no microplastics behind.
In accordance with the corporate, it combines polymer science with plentiful pure feedstocks to construct the technological basis for its bio-based alternate options designed to be suitable with established business processes. It utilises novel modified biopolymers sourced from low-cost pure supplies, together with supplies reminiscent of cellulose and starch.
“This basis expertise already provides a aggressive price outlook, and the funding will help additional optimisation of supplies and manufacturing processes because it strikes towards industrial scale,” the corporate talked about within the press launch. It’s within the technique of getting ready its first patent filings.
Dr Benjamin White, co-founder and CTO of A&B Good Supplies, stated, “Artificial tremendous absorbent polymers are inflicting an enormous downside in our trendy world. Polluting our land, our water, our meals, and even us with microplastics.
“We intend to fully substitute these merchandise with biocompatible and biodegradable supplies, with out compromising on product efficiency or affordability. We’re extremely grateful to our buyers and the religion they’ve in us. We glance ahead within the coming years to carrying this product to market, and hopefully, making the world a greater place.”
The capital shall be used primarily to speed up R&D in an effort to optimise A&B’s sustainable SAP formulations, and obtain the “trifecta” of excessive efficiency, aggressive pricing, and validation at industrial scale throughout hygiene and agricultural purposes.
In accordance with van Trappen, the corporate’s most popular preliminary pathway is licensing and joint improvement agreements with massive industrial gamers. Nevertheless, it has additionally stored extra choices open, together with contract manufacturing, the place a companion produces the fabric below its IP, and self manufacturing.
“At our present working plan, the spherical provides us roughly 2 years. That stated, runway is at all times a perform of ambition. If we safe main business agreements sooner, or if we encounter distinctive expertise that materially accelerates the programme, we’re ready to redeploy capital extra aggressively or extra conservatively. The tenet is easy: we spend when it clearly shortens the trail to scale and market entry,” he added.
Speaking in regards to the subsequent fundraising spherical, he talked about that it may come prior to individuals would possibly anticipate. He famous that will probably be a multi-million-pound increase, sized across the wants of pilot-scale manufacturing and superior industrial validation.
The corporate operates from the College of Oxford’s Begbroke Science Park and has gained a number of awards, together with the TBAT Innovation Problem 2025. It was the 2nd runner-up of the 2025 BBIA Demeter Award for the Startup Class on the Royal Society of Chemistry in November 2025. A&B was additionally awarded an equity-free grant of practically €104k (£91,250) in 2025 from the Henry Royce Institute of Superior Supplies, in partnership with the College of Warwick Polymer Group and Reactwise.
