Bcomp secures CHF 36M Series C investment to accelerate expansion and market entry

17.04.2024 10:16, Rita Longobardi

Bcomp, a top player in natural fiber composites, raised CHF 36 million in its Series C round. As a leading global cleantech firm, it will use the funds to boost production, tap into the automotive market, and expand into Asia and North America.

Bcomp offers innovative flax-based fabrics, powerRibs™ and ampliTex™, as substitutes for traditional materials like carbon, glass, or plastic. These fabrics provide lightweight, stiffness, and safety advantages over synthetic composites, including high-vibration damping and impact resistance. By using these sustainable solutions, CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced throughout the lifecycle of products.

The company's innovative materials significantly aid decarbonization. For automotive interiors, they cut plastic use by up to 70% and reduce weight by 50% compared to traditional materials. These natural, high-performance materials can lower CO2 emissions by up to 60% from production to delivery. Plus, parts are recyclable, offering a second life. With certifications like IATF 16949 and ISO 9001, the thermoplastic range seamlessly integrates into mass production processes.

The funding round was led by EGS Beteiligungen AG (EGSB), a major Swiss institutional investor focused on growth-stage companies. Verve Ventures, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and RKKVC are additional new investors. It also saw a group of Series A and Series B participants deepen their investment in Bcomp, including Generali and Airbus Ventures, in addition to strategic investment funds associated with high-profile OEMs such as BMW i Ventures, Porsche Ventures and Volvo Cars Tech Fund.

The funding will boost Bcomp's production capacity, aiding its expansion into new markets in Asia and North America. With proven applications at Volvo and Polestar, the Swiss company aims to solidify its bio-composite leadership by introducing sustainable solutions across various sectors like rail, buses, aviation, aerospace, and consumer goods.

Besides being ranked among the TOP 100 Swiss Startups from 2011 to 2016, Bcomp participated in Venture Leaders Technology in 2012 and won the last stage of Venture Kick in 2011.

"I am probably one of the first-generation babies of Venturelab and its ecosystem, and I am a very good example of Venturelab’s work. I already felt 10 years ago that Venturelab had done a great job in structuring the ecosystem and there were a lot of tools out there. It has grown much more mature—from an already very mature situation back then," highlighted Christian Fischer, Bcomp's Co-Founder and CEO.

Bcomp's Co-Founders: CEO Christian Fischer and CTO Julien Rion