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Based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Evoralis develops biocatalyst enzymes designed to selectively break down complex plastics like polyester, nylon, and polyurethane into reusable building blocks for a circular economy. The company utilizes a proprietary microfluidic ultrahigh-throughput screening platform combined with bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to test millions of enzymes daily on physical plastic particles. Operating on a capital-light business model of enzyme sales and bioprocess licensing, the firm initially targets the textile industry to enable the recycling of over 80 percent of mixed and blended fibers. In September 2024, the enterprise secured £2.5 million in seed funding from investors including LIFTT and Archipelago Ventures, and recently received an engineering biology grant from UKRI. Spun out from the University of Cambridge Hollfelder Lab, Evoralis was founded in 2021 by Josephin Holstein and Mariana Rangel Pereira.
Evoralis has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Evoralis has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Evoralis has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in September 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | $3M Seed | — | BackBone Ventures | Announced |
Evoralis is a UK-based startup founded in 2021 that develops enzyme-based technologies for recycling plastics, particularly in textiles, by breaking down polymers like polyester (PET), nylon (PA), and polyurethane (PUR) into their original building blocks for virgin-like material production[1][2][3][4]. It serves fashion retailers, automotive, packaging, waste management, and chemical industries, solving the challenge of recycling mixed and blended fibers—potentially enabling over 80% of textiles to be recyclable—amid growing plastic waste pressures[1][3][4]. With $3.98M raised, including a £2.5M seed round in 2024 led by LIFTT, Evoralis shows strong early momentum through grants, partnerships, and interest from brands seeking sustainable solutions[1][2][4].
Evoralis emerged as a spinout from the University of Cambridge's Hollfelder Lab, founded in 2021 by three postdoctoral researchers—Josephin Holstein, Mariana Rangel Pereira, and Tomasz Kaminski—driven by concerns over plastic waste, especially the 6 million tonnes of annual post-consumer textile waste in Europe, 60% of which contains non-recyclable fossil-based plastics[2][4]. The founders developed a proprietary microfluidic ultrahigh-throughput screening platform during their research, enabling rapid enzyme testing on real plastic particles at speeds up to 1,000 times faster than traditional methods and up to 10 million enzymes per day[1][2][4]. They met Daniel Kaute, who added business expertise, through Cambridge Enterprise’s Postdoc Business Plan Competition; early traction included accolades, grants, and a seed VC round closing 8 months ago, fueling commercialization[1][4].
Evoralis rides the circular economy wave in plastics recycling, targeting a market strained by mechanical recycling limits on contaminated/mixed materials, amid EU regulations and consumer demands for sustainability—Europe's textile waste alone hits 6M tonnes yearly[4]. Timing aligns with biotech advances in enzymes and AI-driven discovery, positioning it to disrupt a sector where enzymatic recycling promises infinite loops of high-quality reuse, unlike energy-intensive alternatives[3][5]. It influences the ecosystem by partnering with recyclers and brands, fostering scalable solutions for textiles (80% recyclability potential) and expanding to automotive/packaging, while accelerating via university spinout networks like Cambridge Enterprise[2][4].
Evoralis is poised for expansion with its recent seed funding, likely prioritizing textile enzyme commercialization, custom partnerships, and platform enhancements via AI to hit more plastic types amid rising global recycling mandates[1][2][5]. Trends like stricter plastic bans, corporate net-zero goals, and biotech scaling will propel it, potentially evolving from startup to key enabler in a $560B circular plastics market through licensing deals and international collaborations[4]. As enzyme tech matures, Evoralis could redefine recycling viability, turning waste into high-value feedstocks and amplifying Cambridge's biotech leadership in sustainability[3].
Evoralis has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Evoralis's investors include BackBone Ventures.
