Impossible Materials: The Venture Leader Cleantech envisioning a future where sustainable, eco-friendly processes transform functional ingredients into innovative products

02.10.2023 09:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Lukas Schertel, CEO of Impossible Materials. The Fribourg-based startup provides businesses with plant-based formulation ingredients to enable them more safe and sustainable product formulations and work towards a circular economy.

Name: Lukas Schertel
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Nationality: German
Graduated from: University of Zurich 
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 9
Money raised: CHF 3.4m 
First touchpoint with Venturelab: VentureKick Stage 1

Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Impossible Materials provides businesses with plant-based functional ingredients to enable them safer and more sustainable products. As a first product, we sell cellulose white pigments to the food, pet food, pharma printing and coating industries.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
The current white pigment market is a USD 16 billion industry dominated by titanium dioxide. This material is taken out by regulators in food and pharma. In these markets, we aim to become a leader, while in coatings and printing, we focus on segments with high environmental impact.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
During my research at the University of Cambridge as a postdoctoral researcher in the Bioinspired Photonics Lab. Our solution has been inspired by a white beetle from nature.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Cleantech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
Our solution is impact-driven and market-requested. However, we need partners and investors to scale it quickly and effectively. I hope to network with relevant organizations and investors to make connections that will help us bring our solution to the market quickly.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
We signed major joint development agreements with customers through constant efforts to improve our product proposition. 

What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
The most demanding aspect of being a founder often revolves around the constant battle for time management. On the flip side, the ultimate gratification stems from witnessing the transformation of a mere idea into a tangible and thriving reality.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Managing people is harder than managing a project.

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
Blocking time in the calendar to get things done.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I don't have a specific memory of a dream job from my childhood. I believe that this has granted me the flexibility to pursue a variety of paths and become the person I wanted to be.

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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.