CellX Biosolutions: The Venture Leader Cleantech developing bacterial solutions for industrial pollution

08.09.2025 11:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Estelle Clerc, CEO of CellX. The startup creates innovative bacteria-based products for efficient and targeted treatment of industrial chemical pollution. In November, Estelle and the other nine Swiss National Cleantech Team members will travel to Munich on a business development and investor roadshow.

Name: Estelle Clerc
Location: Zürich
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: ETH Zürich
Job title: Co-Founder & CEO
Number of employees: 8
Money raised: CHF 1.5M

Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
CellX helps chemical producers and owners of polluted sites to deal with persistent pollutants  We target in particular, chemical producers of PFAS, pesticides or pharmaceuticals generating high volumes of hazardous chemical waste in their production process and owners of polluted sites especially, PFAS contaminated sites due to firefighting foams, and landfills containing PFAS. We provide nature-based bacterial solutions for the sustainable treatment of chemical pollution. This enables our clients to treat contaminated water and soil in a cost-efficient way, to reduce CO? emissions compared to conventional treatments based on waste incineration and to meet tightening regulatory requirements.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We are targeting the global water treatment market and the water and soil remediation market, with a particular focus on PFAS. According to the European Commission, cleaning-up PFAS pollution in Europe could cost between € 5 B € 100 B per year.  As regulation is tightening in the US and EU, the demand for effective removal technologies increases. We believe that bio-based solutions like ours can capture a significant share of this emerging market by replacing polluting and costly traditional treatments.
 

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How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea grew from my PhD research at ETH Zurich, where I studied how bacteria interact with natural complex substrates in their natural environment. Using microfluidics, I realized we could tap into the vast diversity of nature to find organisms capable of degrading even “forever” chemicals. That scientific insight, combined with the urgent need for scalable solutions to PFAS and other contaminants, led to the creation of CellX.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
We want to connect with international investors, strategic partners, and new collaborators who share our vision of sustainable chemical pollution treatment. The roadshow is a unique chance to build relationships with industry leaders but also regulators and infrastructure players, who are key to accelerating pilot projects and preparing our upcoming funding round.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
-We built a library of over 100 bacterial degraders from diverse environments, including over 20 bacterial strains that degrade a wide range of PFAS.

-We secured CHF 1.5M pre-seed funding and CHF 3M in non-dilutive grants

-We started 2 paid collaborations with large chemicals and pharmaceutical producers. 

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Sustainability - which goes beyond the environmental sense. It is also about building a sustainable way of working: It is a marathon, not a sprint - looking after ourselves and our team is essential if we want to achieve our second guiding principle: creating global impact.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Success comes down to people. Finding the right team is the most valuable asset any startup can have.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
My Google Calendar: I plan and time block every single activity every single day so I know what I do weeks in advance if needed.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
As a child I wanted to be a singer - but growing up I got way too curious about the marine world and decided to go into marine sciences.