General Partner Michael Smith states “exceptional companies are continuing to get good funding,” and we look forward to supercharging top climate innovations across the consumer landscape.
The environmental crises linked to textiles have given rise to several firms that aim to reimagine dyeing altogether. One such company, Colorifix, just got a boost via a $22.6 million (£18 million) Series B round, led by Swedish fashion giant H&M. Colorifix stands out for its progress in using microbes (such as E. coli) to naturally deposit dyes directly onto fabrics. Its microorganisms are engineered to produce specific colors and then brewed in vats like beer.
In 2017, after more than a decade of tinkering and research, Cardiff co-founded Clean02, a company that sells a device able to capture commercial customers’ CO2 and turn it into useful products—soap, shampoo, fertilizer and the like—all while providing them what he describes as a fast and efficient return on their investment, while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by about 20%.
Circular economy solutions are critical for sustainable growth and climate action. But the circular economy hasn’t hastened as only 8.6% of the world is currently circular. Until recently, there have been few investors focused on circularity, especially in Asia. But things may be changing with the emergence of funds for early-stage circular ventures from the likes of Regeneration.VC and the Circular Innovation Fund (CIF).
Vitrolabs, a California biotech startup creating cow-free leather from cell cultures, has been working with Gucci-parent Kering to develop leather alternatives for fashion, the companies announced today.
Backed by an all-star roster of strategic advisors and investors including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and circular economy pioneer William McDonough, a fledgling venture capital firm just announced the final close of its first $45 million fund. Called Regeneration.VC, the firm focuses on seed and series A investments in circular and regenerative approaches to consumer industries.
Plastic foam like Styrofoam is a ubiquitous, harmful and nearly immortal single-use material that is long overdue for a good, green replacement — and Cruz Foam is here to supply it. The startup creates a durable yet backyard-compostable packing foam out of shrimp shells produced (and discarded) by the seafood industry. It recently extended its seed round to accommodate the interests of Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher, and is scaling up to meet the demands of its first major customer, Whirlpool.
