In Belgium, a bio-based surfactant startup AmphiStar has raised $13.5 million.
The funding, which included a $10.8 million equity investment and $2.7 million grant from European Innovation Council, pushes AmphiStar’s total funding to over $26 million. Earlier backers include CBE-JU initiatives, regional grants, and a pre-series A round involving ECBF, Qbic, and PMV.
The company’s technology employs fermentation to upcycle biobased waste and side streams. “This funding success enables us to take the next steps in AmphiStar’s journey to commercialization,” AmphiStar COO Sophie Roelants told Environment Energy Leader. “We now look forward not only to further scaling production of our commercially available products…but also to bringing a first novel biosurfactant from our biosurfactant platform technology to market while expanding our range of products beyond our current personal care and home care offerings.”
In North America, AmphiStar has production partnership with Illinois’ Kensing. In Europe, it is working with regional partners to scale production.