Poland’s RKKVC joins $40M Series C round for Bcomp, a Swiss cleantech

Bcomp, a Swiss provider of natural fiber composites for the mobility, recreational, and mass transportation sectors, has announced the closure of a $40 million Series C funding round. The round was led by EGS Beteiligungen AG. Verve Ventures, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and the Polish VC firm RKKVC acted as additional new investors.

• Bcomp develops a range of flax-based reinforcement fabrics, powerRibs and ampliTex. These technologies that can be used by OEMs as substitutes for standard materials like carbon, glass, or plastic. Originally developed to lighten and reinforce backcountry skis, Bcomp’s bio-based composites have been adapted and field-tested in motorsports.
• OEMs associated with investors like BMW Ventures, Porsche Ventures, and Volvo Cars Tech Fund are 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.

Not only are we facing more stringent regulations for carbon outputs, but consumers and manufacturers everywhere understand that we need to de-carbonize to preserve our global environment. 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,

Christian Fischer, Bcomp CEO and co-founder, said.

• The round was led by EGS Beteiligungen AG (EGSB), a Swiss institutional investor focused on growth-stage companies. The Swiss Verve Ventures and Zürcher Kantonalbank are among additional new investors.
• The Polish VC fund RKKVC also participated in the funding as a new investor. It is a Warsaw-based family office investing between €100,000 — €1 million in early-stage startups. One of its more recent portfolio companies include Sea Machines Robotics.

• The funding round also saw a group of Series A and Series B participants deepen their investment in Bcomp, including Generali and Airbus Ventures.

The funding will help Bcomp scale its production capacity and support its entry into new markets in Asia and North America. The company will also build on its leadership position in the bio-composite market by introducing lightweight and sustainable solutions for additional verticals that include rail, buses, aviation, aerospace and consumer goods.