Sustainable surfactant startup AmphiStar gets €2m funding boost

Belgian biotech startup AmphiStar, which is pioneering sustainable surfactant products, has received a €2m non-dilutive grant from SPRIN-D (Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation). 

Overall, the company has secured a grand total of €10m in funding so far this year.  

The grant, which is backed by the German government, will support continued development of its biotechnology platform, which creates tailored biosurfactant molecules for the personal care and home care industries.  

CEO Pierre-Franck Valentin said that the freedom that the non-dilutive funding provides will allow the company to continue to develop and refine its bespoke, sustainable surfactants and “meet the growing demand for high-performance yet sustainable solutions” in this space.  

“This support reinforces the German government’s recognition of our breakthrough technology and its potential to revolutionise the industry," he said.  

The company previously secured €1.5m in the programme’s initial phase last year and is now competing for another €2m in the final round of funding, which would potentially be awarded next year. 

Promising molecules at low technology readiness levels ​

AmphiStar’s bespoke biosurfactants are produced from organic waste and side streams. The company said they aren’t simply a sustainable alternative to fossil surfactants, as they also “unlock new possibilities for innovation in the cleaning, cosmetics, and personal care industries.” 

Cofounder and COO Sophie Roelants said that the grant will enable the business to concentrate on developing entirely new, promising molecules at low technology readiness levels (TRL), all produced from waste through a continuous biomanufacturing process.  

“Our goal is to reduce costs and enhance sustainability, while maintaining functionality, aligning perfectly with our mission to replace traditional surfactants with environmentally responsible, bio-based alternatives, without compromising on quality or affordability,” she explained. 

During the first year of the SPRIN-D programme, the AmphiStar team performed a continuous biomanufacturing process for 75 days using only waste materials to produce a completely novel and promising biosurfactant molecule. This was 15 days longer than the 60 days that had been anticipated by SPRIN-D. 

The company said that continuous biomanufacturing is “crucial for reducing the costs of novel and sustainable biochemicals”, which will allow them “to penetrate markets driven by functionality and cost considerations.” 

Thanks to the new funding, AmphiStar said it will now be able to focus on bringing its tailored, sustainable products to a global market and that there are “exciting developments to come in the year ahead.”