Pegasus Materials has introduced its first two bio-based specialty materials and expanded its Seed round with new investment from venture studio Ferment and renewed support from existing investor LIOF. The company, which also previously received backing from Fibrant BV, will use the additional capital to accelerate commercial scale-up across electronics, data center infrastructure, and aerospace manufacturing.
Headquartered at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, the Netherlands, Pegasus Materials develops high-performance materials that integrate bio-based chemical building blocks with advanced industrial chemistry. The company was founded by Richard Pieters and Chris Schröder, who bring extensive experience in both materials science and biotechnology, with decades spent serving customers that operate under strict performance requirements.
The newly launched materials, Virela-X001 and Virela-X002, are designed to address long-standing industry challenges around miniaturization, heat resistance, and manufacturing precision. Virela-X001 is a bio-based high-heat polyamide engineered for thinner, more precise molding with ultra-low moisture uptake. The material is now being evaluated for use in USB-C connectors and DDR memory modules for data center servers. Virela-X002 is a partially bio-based polyimide for industrial 3D printing that delivers isotropic strength and high heat tolerance, enabling durable, lightweight printed components. The company is working with aerospace and defense partners to assess its performance for flight-ready parts.
Pegasus Materials’ approach merges the design possibilities of biology with the reliability of industrial chemistry, aiming to reduce environmental impact through renewable inputs and lower greenhouse gas emissions. With Ferment joining the investor consortium and contributing deep expertise in industrial biotechnology, Pegasus will advance its transition from pilot to commercial production. The company also plans to expand customer qualification programs and drive the development of additional materials tailored to high-performance applications.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our customers are pushing the limits of what materials need to do, whether it’s creating smaller parts, withstanding higher temperatures, or managing mechanical stress.”
“Our customers are pushing the limits of what materials need to do, whether it’s creating smaller parts, withstanding higher temperatures, or managing mechanical stress,” said Richard Pieters, Co-Founder and CEO of Pegasus Materials. “By combining new bio-based chemistries with deep material science know-how, we can achieve the unique performance specs that customers are looking for and also pair this with a smaller environmental footprint.”
Richard Pieters, Co-Founder and CEO, Pegasus Materials
“Pegasus Materials shows how biology adds enormous value when it’s pointed at the hardest problems in materials. Pegasus starts with clear customer goals like faster data transfer or lower manufacturing defect rates and applies biotechnology and chemistry together using ML to reach performance demands efficiently and sustainably. Their model leverages existing assets for faster scaling, and we’re excited to work with LIOF and Fibrant to build Pegasus Materials.”
Brian Brazeau, Partner, Ferment
“We are very pleased to have Ferment strengthen the investor consortium. With Ferment’s deep expertise in industrial biotechnology and Fibrant’s strong materials knowledge, we now have an exceptional amount of smart money on board. This positions Pegasus Materials for success both for the Limburg region and far beyond.”
Jeffrey Lutje Spelberg, Investment Manager, LIOF
