Sparxell, a University of Cambridge spin-out developing bioinspired colour technologies, has raised €4.2 million in a pre-Series A round to scale its 100% bio-based, biodegradable approach to colour. SWEN Capital Partners led the financing through its Blue Ocean 2 fund, alongside Alpha Star Capital and Cambridge Enterprise.
The company is positioning its platform as an alternative to conventional dyes and pigments used across fashion and textiles, aiming to replace inputs tied to petroleum-based chemicals, synthetic dyes, toxic heavy metals, and minerals. Sparxell’s process uses cellulose derived from wood pulp, assembling cellulose crystals into microstructures that reflect specific wavelengths of light to generate colour, drawing on the same physical principle behind the vivid hues seen in butterfly wings.
The new capital is intended to help Sparxell progress from pilot-scale manufacturing toward industrial-scale production by 2026. The company also framed the scale-up as a way to support consumer brands seeking high-performance materials that align with evolving European regulatory requirements and sustainability targets.
KEY QUOTE:
“Sparxell’s innovation is fully aligned with the ambition of our SWEN Blue Ocean 2 fund. By reinventing colour through a bio-based, biodegradable approach, Sparxell offers a tangible response to a major environmental challenge while enabling global industries to transition toward safer and more sustainable practices. We are delighted to accompany them in this next phase of growth.”
Mélanie Le Guen, Investment Director, SWEN Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean strategy
