Visolis is a technology company.
Visolis has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round.
Visolis has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Visolis has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Visolis's investors include BlueYard Capital.
Visolis is a bioengineering startup leveraging synthetic biology and chemical catalysis to produce sustainable, carbon-negative alternatives to petroleum-based products, targeting industries like plastics, transportation, personal care, and apparel.[1][3] The company converts waste streams, lignocellulosic biomass, and plant byproducts into high-value chemicals such as isoprene (for rubber), mevalonic acid-based skincare, aviation fuel, polymers, and fabrics, serving manufacturers seeking decarbonized supply chains.[1][2] It solves the environmental challenge of high-carbon manufacturing by enabling carbon-negative goods like yoga pants and tires, with current revenue in the millions from products like Ameva Bio skincare and rapid scaling—doubling capacity every 2-3 years.[1]
Visolis was founded in 2014 by Deepak Dugar, an MIT alumnus who left his consulting job to pursue synthetic biology full-time after developing a microbe that produced 80% pure mevalonic acid—an intermediate for isoprene, the key rubber component—within 18 months.[1] The idea emerged from Dugar's application of engineering "design-for-scale" principles to biology at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab via the Activate fellowship, where he paired the microbe with chemical catalysis to create isoprene from sustainable feedstocks.[1] Early traction included patenting processes for aviation fuel and polymers; today, Visolis sells skincare via Ameva Bio (using recycled plant byproducts in refillable bottles) and has validated its platform molecule, generating millions in revenue while expanding from rubber to multi-industry decarbonization.[1]
Visolis rides the synthetic biology wave for decarbonization, addressing petrochemical reliance amid climate regulations and net-zero demands in a $500B+ materials market.[1][3] Timing aligns with abundant cheap feedstocks like lignocellulosic biomass and waste streams, plus policy support (e.g., SBIR grants), enabling cost-competitive bio-alternatives to fossil fuels.[2] Market forces favor it: rising fuel/polymer costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and consumer demand for sustainable goods (e.g., bio-based personal care).[1] It influences the ecosystem by proving scalable hybrid bio-manufacturing, inspiring startups in cleantech and accelerating industry shifts to carbon-negative production.[1][3]
Visolis is poised for explosive growth, targeting massive impact via 10x scaling to penetrate aviation, tires, and apparel with carbon-negative products.[1] Trends like AI-optimized biology, stricter emissions rules, and circular economy mandates will propel it, potentially disrupting petroleum giants as bio-feedstocks commoditize.[2][3] Its influence may evolve from niche supplier to platform leader, powering ecosystem-wide decarbonization—transforming "petroleum alternatives" from vision to industrial reality, much like its journey from lab microbe to million-dollar revenue.
Visolis has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Seed in January 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2023 | $8.0M Seed | BlueYard Capital |