London-based biotech company Solena Materials has secured $6.7 million in a seed funding round to scale up the production of its eco-friendly protein fibres. The investment was backed by Sir David Harding, SynBioVen, and Insempra.
- Founded in 2022 by Dr. James MacDonald, Prof. Paul Freemont, and Prof. Milo Shaffer as a spinout from Imperial College London, Solena Materials develops next-generation sustainable protein fibres designed to replace petrochemical-derived textiles.
- The company uses advanced artificial intelligence, deep learning models, and computational design to create bespoke proteins that form the basis of high-performance, biodegradable, and non-oil-derived fibres.
- These fibres are engineered to be tough, soft, and scalable, addressing the limitations of both synthetic and natural materials.
Details of the deal
- The seed round saw support from Sir David Harding, SynBioVen, a UK-based VC firm, and Insempra, a biotech firm that develops sustainable, nature-based ingredients to replace petrochemicals.
"Solena's technology offers an answer to the question of how fashion can ever be compatible with sustainability. Manufacturing wearable materials biologically could be the next revolution in clothing. Most clothing today is made of materials derived from fossil fuel feedstock. Hopefully, the materials of the future will be grown in vats," claims Sir David Harding.
- With the fresh funding, the startup aims to scale production, strengthen its IP portfolio, and kick off commercial partnerships, targeting its first product launch within three years.
"This funding will help us expand production capacity, reduce costs, and begin collaborating with partners to launch products made with Solena fibres. It marks an exciting step towards a future where sustainability and performance go hand in hand," co-founder and CEO of Solena Materials, Dr James MacDonald, stated.
*Lead image by Jack Taylor
