Holiferm Limited, a spin out from the University of Manchester that manufactures sustainable biosurfactants has recently closed our Series B funding round. This has seen further funds invested by Rhapsody Venture Partners, a leading Boston based deeptech VC and Clean Growth Fund, a leading UK cleantech VC, both previous Series A investors.
The funds raised will allow the company to forge ahead with our scale up plans for our commercial plant. Holiferm’s Wallasey plant has a current capacity of 1.1 KTA. With this new investment new fermenters will be installed in the plant, increasing capacity to 3.5 KTA around the end of 2024, then further scaling up to 15kta capacity. This will enable full market launches by major multinational customers.
The funding will also significantly accelerate the works taking place at our bespoke research and development facility in Manchester. It will allow us to move forward with refining manufacturing methods for other biosurfactants and pushing these forward through pilot testing and commercial launch in 2024. The investment means we can also continue our ambitious hiring strategy to ensure we attract the best candidates from the UK and around the world as we apply the technology to a range of different chemistries and drive our products to net 0 scope 3.
Ben Dolman, CEO of Holiferm said, “This latest funding round highlights the scale of the opportunity with Holiferm’s technology, making the manufacture of chemicals cleaner and greener through the elimination of petrochemicals which is vital for not just the chemical industry, but the World as a whole. Both Rhapsody Venture Partners and Clean Growth Fund have proven exceptionally collaborative and supportive partners, and we are delighted that they are continuing with us on this journey and look forward to working together to transform the chemical industry.”
About Holiferm
Holiferm Limited is a spin-out from the University of Manchester focused on the development of innovative and sustainable methods for the production of biosurfactants. The methods pioneered by the company aim to remove the use of harmful petrochemicals from the production process and thereby making a lasting impact on the chemical manufacturing industry. To date Holiferm Limited have managed to take their first process for sophorolipids from laboratory trials through pilot scales tests and into commercial production. The company currently produces their sophorolipids at their own commercial plant in Wallasey, UK, which has a current capacity of 1.1 KTA with plans to significantly increase this in the short term. The company also has a bespoke research and development facility in Manchester where the process are trialled and perfected. Holiferm hope to release MELs and rhamnolipids to the market to complement their sophorolipid range, which can be used in a variety of personal and home care applications.
For more information about Holiferm please visit www.holiferm.com or contact info@holiferm.com.
