• Carbon Cell Complete PreSeed Round With £1.2 M 

• Solena Materials Closes Seed Round With $6.7 M

• Alternative Protein Sector To Receive £4 M 

• Material Innovation Initiative Relaunches

• Are We Entering an Era of Post-policy Resilience?

The BioDesign Newsletter

Issue #046

Carbon Cell Complete PreSeed Round With £1.2 M 

Carbon Cell, a materials start-up, has completed its pre-seed round with £1.2 M. This new injection of capital will go towards scaling the company’s plastic-free foam production as they move from batch to continuous production as well as trailing and perfecting their product with the support of early customers. This round was led by Green Angel Ventures and Counteract and the round was supported by HERmesa, RCA Design and Innovation S/EIS Fund and One Planet Capital. 

Solena Materials Closes Seed Round With $6.7 M

Solena Materials, a London-based biomaterials start-up, has closed its seed round with $6.7 M (£5 M). This investment will support the transition of Solena Materials to a larger facility, which will house the commercialisation of their first product, which is expected to launch within the next three years. The investors behind this seed round are Sir David Harding, SynBioVen and Insempra. 

Alternative Protein Sector To Receive £4 M 

Material Innovation Initiative Relaunches

In September 2024, the Material Innovation Initiative (MII) announced its decision that they were winding down its operations. Eight months later, this decision is being reversed by the board. This decision comes after the board reflected on the global backpedalling on sustainability from organisations and governments. Nicole Rawling, CEO of MII, shared that “The Material Innovation Initiative is re-launching with renewed commitment, energy, and purpose”. To support this relaunch, the MII are asking for donations with a donor offering to match $100,000.

Are We Entering an Era of Post-policy Resilience?

See you soon,

Ariyana & the House of BioDesign Team

The BioDesign Newsletter is an independent publication.

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