Dimpora: The Venture Leader Cleantech focused on creating novel, highly functional membranes for the clothing industry

09.10.2023 08:23, Rita Longobardi

Meet Anna Beltzung, CTO of Dimpora. The Cleantech startup is taking tangible steps to safeguard the environment by tackling the problem of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals within the clothing industry.

Name: Anna Beltzung
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: ETH Zurich
Job title: CTO and Co-Founder
Number of employees: 11
Money raised: 2.1 M Seed Round in 2021
First touchpoint with Venturelab: 2018

 

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
We are an award-winning Swiss start-up delivering transformative solutions, especially for the sport and outdoor textile industry that combine exceptional performance, customization, and sustainability. Our commitment to non-toxicity, circularity, and environmental responsibility drives us to continuously push the boundaries of innovation in the textile industry. Our membranes represent a groundbreaking innovation in the textile industry. They are the first non-toxic, waterproof breathable, PFAS-free, and fully porous membranes that provide circularity for a wide range of industries, including sports and outdoor textiles.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We are addressing the sport/outdoor textile industry with our customers being brands, typically the one of your ski/snowboard gear such as jackets, gloves, and trousers. PFAS chemicals have historically offered exceptional performance, however, they are toxic and never degrade. In response to these concerns, legal bans on PFAS are gaining momentum. Notably, California (by 2025) and New York (by 2024) have taken the lead by implementing bans, and the European Union is actively pushing for a similar restriction.
Thanks to those regulations, our innovation is spot-on and we are really looking forward to seeing our products in many collections in the future.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea came from my co-founder Mario Stucki’s master's thesis and subsequent Ph.D. thesis at ETH Zurich. At that time, there was a huge campaign against PFAS chemicals in the textile industry by Greenpeace and then the idea of trying to reach high performance without using these chemicals started. I joined dimpora after my Ph.D. and we scaled up the first generation of membrane and are now scaling the 2nd generation, which has an even bigger positive impact on the environment.
 

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What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Cleantech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
Venture Leaders is a great token of the strength of Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem and we are very proud to be part of this network. We expect to make great new contacts and to be able to strengthen our position within the European VC ecosystem.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
The first commercial product with the brand Snowlife and the consequent ISPO award is definitely the highest achievement on the list. Next would be the development of the 2nd generation membrane in a record time - all based on strong learnings from the first product. Our team did a wonderful job. And coming last (but not least), raising our first round in 2021 gave the first big push into the commercialization of our membrane and the growth of dimpora as a young company.

What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
Challenges are all over the place every minute of the day  but the rewards are to see that hard work pays off, our product on the market with happy customers, and see dimpora grow its portfolio and its people.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Nothing is going to go as you expect. But sometimes it’s for the best and you see a path that was not on the roadmap yet.

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
My productivity tool is to get a sweet snack, put my headphones with music on, and get on with a task. Sports also help but takes a bit more time than just having a sweet bite and getting back to work.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
 As a child, I was reading all the possible books about ancient Egypt. And in my head, I was definitely becoming an Egyptologist - ideally with a twist of Indiana Jones.

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Cleantech 2023 were chosen from over 90 applications by an expert jury. The roadshow in Munich will accelerate their ventures’ growth and expand their international presence. Venture Leaders Cleantech is organized by Venturelab and supported by EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich, EY, Helbling Technik, Romande Energie, St.Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke (SAK), Swisscom Ventures, Vaud, and Vischer.