Swiss Biomaterials Startup Seprify Secures CHF 12.25 Million to Scale…

Team S · 2026-03-11T13:22:59.000Z

Swiss biomaterials startup Seprify has raised CHF 12.25 million (about €13.4 million) in a Series A funding round to accelerate the commercialization of its cellulose-based materials platform designed for industrial applications. The round attracted a mix of strategic and financial investors including Inter IKEA Group, Una Terra Early Growth Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and Kickfund. Founded in 2020 by Lukas Schertel, Wadood Hamad, and Oliver Polcher, Seprify develops advanced cellulose-based ingredients engineered to replace conventional materials used in a wide range of products such as cosmetics, food, coatings, and inks. The company’s technology focuses on creating microscopic cellulose structures that scatter light efficiently, enabling whitening and opacity effects without relying on traditional mineral pigments. The platform offers a sustainable alternative to commonly used substances such as titanium dioxide, a widely used whitening ingredient that has faced regulatory scrutiny in several markets. By using plant-derived cellulose sourced from renewable resources, Seprify aims to deliver environmentally friendly materials that can integrate into existing manufacturing processes. Seprify has already developed flagship products such as SilvaLuma, a cellulose-based SPF booster for cosmetics, and SilvaAlba, a food-grade whitening ingredient. The technology has reached Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7-9 and has been validated through collaborations with industrial partners. With the fresh funding, the company plans to scale commercial production to hundreds of tonnes annually through manufacturing partners, expand deployment across industries including cosmetics, personal care, food, and coatings, and advance engineering work for large-scale industrial capacity. Seprify is also engaging with more than 100 potential customer organizations, supporting the transition from early trials toward long-term procurement agreements with major manufacturers.

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Swiss Biomaterials Startup Seprify Secures CHF 12.25 Million to Scale… | Newnex