Bloom Biorenewables Raises CHF 13 Million

Fribourg-based startup Bloom Biorenewables SA, a pioneer in the conversion of biomass into sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products, has successfully closed a CHF 13 million funding round. This milestone will enable the company to accelerate its growth and take a major step toward building its first industrial-scale facility by 2027.

Led by Anaïs Ventures and Valquest Partners, the investment round included participation from notable Swiss and international backers such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Capital Risque Fribourg, Btomorrow Ventures, and Amcor Ventures.

In today’s challenging funding environment, this support is a strong vote of confidence in Bloom’s mission. “It’s a real relief and a great signal,” said co-founders Florent Héroguel, Jeremy Luterbacher, and Rémy Buser. “We are now well-positioned to scale our technology and bring sustainable solutions to the market.”

Bloom’s proprietary Aldehyde-Assisted Fractionation (AAF) technology—developed at EPFL’s Laboratory of Sustainable and Catalytic Processes—efficiently extracts cellulose, stabilizes lignin, and preserves hemicellulosic sugars from plant biomass. This enables the production of bio-based chemicals, fuels, and materials without using petroleum, at competitive costs and with lower carbon emissions.

The startup commercializes three main ingredients:

• Lignin, used in adhesives, UV filters, and polyurethanes by companies like DSM-Firmenich and Soprema

• Hemicellulosic sugars, for solvents and additives

• Cellulose, used in the paper industry

Founded in 2019, Bloom was born from academic roots. The founding trio combined their expertise in green chemistry and entrepreneurship to launch the company from the canton of Fribourg, where access to engineering schools and infrastructure enabled initial scale-up efforts.

Today, Bloom employs 16 people and operates a lab in Renens, a strategic partnership with Valsynthese in Valais, and collaborations with leading industrial players. The CHF 13 million raised will partly support its partnership with Valsynthese, boosting production and initial sales of its flagship products.

The remainder will be allocated toward the design and construction of its own manufacturing plant, expected to be operational by 2027. “We’ve already tested the process at multiple sites and finalized key specifications. Now, we’re searching for the ideal location—whether in Switzerland or abroad,” explains Héroguel.

Awarded the 2024 Prix SUD (Sustainable Start-up Award) by Le Temps and Romande Energie, Bloom continues to establish itself as one of Switzerland’s most promising climate-tech ventures. With the latest funding, it’s now ready to enter a new phase—moving from lab-scale innovation to full industrial deployment.