Kelpi secures £3m in seed funding to expand seaweed-based packaging production.
The funding round was led by Science Creates Ventures and Green Angel Syndicate to support manufacturing pilots.
Kelpi develops sustainable bioplastic packaging materials derived from seaweed. The company provides high-performance coatings for paper and card with strong barrier properties.
Kelpi has secured £3m in a seed funding round led by Science Creates Ventures and Green Angel Syndicate, alongside participation from One Planet Capital, Bristol Private Equity Club, private angel investors, and a £665k grant from Innovate UK.
The Bristol-based sustainable packaging scaleup will direct the capital towards conducting manufacturing pilots for its proprietary seaweed-based coatings. The company aims to eliminate single-use plastics and reduce reliance on fossil fuels within the packaging sector.
Over the past two and a half years, Kelpi has formulated seaweed-derived biopolymers that offer water, oxygen, grease, and acid resistance for paper and card substrates. The fresh injection of capital allows the business to scale operations and collaborate with major food and drink enterprises worldwide.
From the founder
"This landmark investment enables Kelpi to scale up our pioneering work using seaweed to create bioplastic packaging with the barrier properties required by clients"
Neil Morris
CEO and co-founder at Kelpi
Investor perspective
"Kelpi stood out to us as a strong combination of world-leading scientific innovation with deep entrepreneurial experience. They’re using deep tech to address a precious commercial challenge, and we’re excited to be backing the company to scale up its solutions in the vital area of reducing fossil fuel dependence on plastics."
Catherine Fletcher
Principal, Science Creates Ventures
Use of funds
- 01Scale operations
Investors
Catherine Fletcher
Science Creates Ventures
Cam Ross
Green Angel Syndicate
One Planet Capital
Bristol Private Equity Club
Innovate UK