Bcomp, a global leader in high-performance, natural fibre composites with industrial-scale applications at Volvo and Polestar, has closed its CHF 36M (US $40M) Series C funding round. The funding will help Bcomp scale its production capacity to expand in the automotive sector, tap into additional verticals and support its entry into new markets in Asia and North America.
Originally developed to lighten and reinforce backcountry skis, Bcomp’s bio-based composites have been adapted and field-tested in motorsports to deliver performance benefits and positive sustainable impacts. OEMs are already using powerRibs and ampliTex. For example, ampliTex fabric is being applied at volume for visible interior components in the new electric Volvo EX30, while BMW is using both products in the design of performance interior and exterior parts for its BMW M4 GT4.
The funding will help Bcomp scale its production capacity to convert an advanced pipeline of commercial opportunities in industrial automotive and support its entry into new markets in Asia and North America. The Swiss-based company will also build on its leadership position in the bio-composite market by introducing lightweighting and sustainable solutions for additional verticals that include rail, buses, aviation, aerospace and consumer goods.
The round was led by EGS Beteiligungen AG (EGSB), a major Swiss institutional investor focused on growth-stage companies. Verve Ventures, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and RKKVC are additional new investors. The funding round also saw a group of Series A and Series B participants deepen their investment in Bcomp, including Generali and Airbus Ventures, in addition to strategic investment funds associated with high-profile OEMs such as BMW i Ventures, Porsche Ventures and Volvo Cars Tech Fund.
“The success of this funding round speaks to the belief of investors in our high-performance decarbonisation solutions,” said Bcomp Chairman Christian Jaag. “This investment will expand our existing markets as well as propel our growth into exciting new sectors.”
“We are very impressed by the maturity and leadership of such a young Swiss company in the field of sustainable, lightweight performance materials,” said David Kurmann, Investment Director at EGSB. “They are offering unprecedented solutions to decarbonisation at a time when the global manufacturing sector is trying to meet its carbon-neutral objectives.”
“We continue to be excited by Bcomp’s growth and its launch into the global mobility market,” said Claas Carsten Kohl, Partner at Airbus Ventures. “Their innovative natural fibre composites are designed to help OEMs decarbonise their supply chains by providing powerful, pragmatic and economical lightweighting solutions to aid in boosting performance.”
The company’s innovative materials contribute significantly to decarbonisation by allowing, for automotive interiors, a reduction in plastic content by up to 70% and total weight savings of up to 50% compared with traditional materials and techniques. The use of these natural, high-performance materials can also reduce the quantity of CO2 emitted from cradle to gate by up to 60% and parts can be recycled and repurposed to serve a second life in another set of components. With certifications including IATF 16949 and ISO 9001, the thermoplastic product range is also a drop-in solution that can be seamlessly integrated into volume production processes.
“Not only are we facing more stringent regulations for carbon outputs, but consumers and manufacturers everywhere understand that we need to decarbonise to preserve our global environment,” said Bcomp CEO and Co-Founder Christian Fischer. “The quality and status of investors in our Series C clearly demonstrate their belief that our bio-based composites offer a viable path towards carbon neutrality without compromising on the rigorous performance requirements of our customers for their demanding applications.”
(Press release / SK)
Photo: Bcomp co-founders – Christian Fischer, CEO (left) and Julien Rion, CTO (right) / Bcomp
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