Seprify raises CHF 12.25 million to scale its cellulose-based materials platform

Fribourg-based biomaterials company Seprify has raised EUR 13.4 million (CHF 12.25 million) in Series A funding to scale commercial production of its cellulose-based ingredient platform. The round includes participation from Inter IKEA Group, Una Terra Early Growth Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Kickfund, and other circular-economy-aligned investors.

Founded as a spin-off of the University of Fribourg and the University of Cambridge and based at the Marly Innovation Center, Seprify develops high-performance functional materials derived from cellulose as sustainable alternatives to high-emission incumbent materials such as titanium dioxide. Its two flagship product grades are SilvaAlba, a food-grade whitening solution estimated to generate up to 80% fewer CO₂ emissions than conventional TiO₂, and SilvaLuma, a cellulose-based SPF booster for cosmetics and personal care, currently being rolled out across Europe through a partnership with Germany’s Grolman Group.

The platform has been validated at TRL 7–9 through collaboration with industry partners including Inter IKEA Group, which is evaluating cellulose-based materials for coatings and surface finishes. The company is currently engaged with more than 100 customer organizations across cosmetics, food and pet food, coatings, inks, and printed electronics.

The Series A will fund the scale-up of commercial production to hundreds of tons per year through established European manufacturing partners, supporting the transition from customer trials into repeatable sourcing and longer-term procurement agreements. Seprify’s first major commercial agreement, announced in 2025 with Denmark’s Oterra for food applications, marked its entry into commercial supply.