The Groningen-based deeptech company Circolide has secured several funding rounds to further develop its innovative technology. Using light and green energy, the company produces sustainable chemical building blocks from biomass waste streams. This financial boost enables Circolide to take a major step toward scaling up its production process and establishing a test environment in the northern Netherlands. The funds will also be used to expand the team, both technologically and commercially. The total investment comes from Future Tech Ventures, NWO, and angel investors. This combination of funding sources provides an ideal mix for an early-stage startup like Circolide.
“With this financing, we can validate our technology on a larger scale and bring it closer to market introduction,” says Thomas Freese, CEO & CTO of Circolide. “We will invest in improved equipment, a pilot plant, and collaboration with industrial partners to test our sustainable molecules in real-world applications.”
“Future Tech Ventures is investing in Circolide because it addresses challenges in a segment of the chemical industry that is difficult to decarbonize. We believe Circolide offers a unique pathway to decarbonization. Many bio-based alternatives have struggled to meet industry demands in terms of performance, cost, and sustainability. We are committed to supporting Circolide as a strategic investment,” says Ignacio Faustino, Investment Manager at Future Tech Ventures.
From fossil feedstocks to circular chemistry
A large share of the chemical building blocks used today still relies entirely on oil and gas. This fossil foundation creates a massive global CO₂ footprint and makes production vulnerable in a world of scarcity and geopolitical pressure. More sustainable alternatives do exist, but often fail to meet the required performance levels, lack quality, or are not yet scalable. Circolide is developing a technology that enables chemical building blocks—commonly used in coatings and cosmetics, among other applications—to be produced not from petroleum but from biomass waste streams. What makes Circolide unique is the combination of waste-based raw materials with a light-driven production process. This not only makes the material itself more sustainable, but also makes the production process more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
“We do not create copies of existing fossil molecules—we develop new variants with unique properties,” explains Hannah Feringa, CCO & COO of Circolide. “Thanks to these unique characteristics, our customers can derive greater value from these building blocks within their value chains. In this way, we contribute to the next generation of sustainable materials—for example in coatings and plastics—while improving quality and performance.”
University of Groningen and AkzoNobel
Circolide is a spin-out of research originally conducted within a collaboration between AkzoNobel and the University of Groningen (RUG). The company is now fully independent and focused on the commercial validation of its technology. Collaboration with industrial partners, however, remains an essential part of its growth strategy.
From lab to real-world use
The funding enables Circolide to further scale its technology and test it in realistic applications. In collaboration with partners in the coatings industry, including AkzoNobel, the first practical tests are being executed. Circolide is also exploring applications in the cosmetics and personal care sectors.
“Our technology is protected by multiple patents. We have filed a patent for our production process, and our molecules have already been tested for years in various coating applications, including with AkzoNobel,” says Freese. “The next step is to translate these results to industrial scale and demonstrate that we can offer a truly circular alternative.”
Growing into an international frontrunner
The planned pilot plant will be established in the northern Netherlands, where Circolide aims to contribute to the development of the regional green chemistry cluster. The region is considered a breeding ground for sustainable innovation in green chemistry.
In the long term, Circolide aims to become an international leader in green chemistry. “Ten years from now, we hope Circolide will be recognized worldwide as a key player in sustainable chemistry,” says Freese. “We are not only building an innovative technology, but also a new way of working in the chemical industry—with attention to people, the environment, and the future,” adds Feringa.
About Circolide
Circolide is an innovative start-up from Groningen that develops sustainable molecules based on biomass waste streams. Using a unique light-driven production method, the company offers an alternative to fossil feedstocks in sectors such as coatings and cosmetics. Circolide was founded by Thomas Freese (CEO/CTO), Hannah Feringa (CCO/COO), Ben Feringa (Scientific Advisor), and Ton Vries (Strategic Advisor).