PARIS – Investor interest in materials innovation appears to be re‑accelerating. Swiss traceability specialist Haelixa and U.K.-based color tech startup Sparxell have both secured new pre‑series A funding, signaling renewed confidence in next-gen materials and supply‑chain solutions.
Elsewhere, Cascale’s Worldly is expanding their Product Impact Calculator to cover more product categories, including sporting goods, furniture and footwear.
A look from Sparxell x Patrick McDowell with synthetic-free dye and sequins.
Sparxell Raises $5 Million to Scale Plant-Based Color Technology
Cambridge-based materials start-up Sparxell has raised $5 million in pre-series A funding as investment activity begins to pick up again in next-generation materials, following a prolonged slowdown driven by inflation, rising interest rates and growing scrutiny of sustainability claims.
The round was led by Swen Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean 2 fund, with participation from Alpha Star Capital and Cambridge Enterprise. The funding will support Sparxell’s move from pilot projects to commercial-scale manufacturing, with production expected to begin in 2026 to meet demand from fashion, beauty and industrial partners.
Sparxell has developed a bio-inspired color technology that uses cellulose extracted from wood pulp to create color through physical structures rather than chemical dyes. The approach called “biomimicry,” which is inspired by the way color appears in butterfly wings, eliminates petroleum-based colorants, heavy metals and synthetic dyes while reducing water use by up to 90 percent, according to the company.
“Our technology isn’t just an alternative — it is here to stay because it delivers superior performance due to its nature-inspired features,” said founder and chief executive Benjamin Droguet. “This funding takes us from proof of concept to production and commercial launches.”
Investor interest in sustainable materials has cooled in recent years as brands and backers became more cautious around scalability, cost and regulatory uncertainty. However, tightening regulation around microplastics and so-called “forever chemicals,” including PFAS, is beginning to push demand for viable alternatives.
“By reinventing color 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,” said Mélanie Le Guen, investment director at Swen Capital Partners.
The company has previously secured 1.9 million euros from the European Innovation Council and is working with partners across fashion, beauty, automotive and packaging. Further commercial partnerships are expected to be revealed in 2026.
Patrick Strumpf
Haelixa Raises 2 Million Euros to Scale DNA-Based Traceability Technology
Swiss deep-tech company Haelixa has raised 2 million euros in pre-series A round as fashion and luxury groups increase investment in technologies designed to mitigate supply-chain risk, fraud and regulatory exposure.
The round was led by existing investors Verve Ventures and Zurich Kantonalbank, with participation from impact-focused 212 NexT Fund, and follows catalytic funding from the Temasek Trust Amplifier program.
Deeptech start-ups are built on hard science or engineering breakthroughs that solve big problems, not just on apps or consumer trends.
The funds will support Haelixa’s international expansion, staff growth and deeper collaboration with textile brands and supply-chain partners.
Founded as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, Haelixa has developed a DNA-based traceability system that physically marks raw materials at any stage of production. The plant-based, invisible DNA markers are embedded directly into materials and remain detectable throughout complex, multi-tier supply chains, allowing brands to verify origin and authenticity on the finished product itself.
As regulatory scrutiny increases across fashion and luxury — particularly around material claims and greenwashing, undeclared textile blending and counterfeiting — brands face rising financial and reputational risks.
Haelixa is positioning its technology as a safeguard beyond documentation or reporting.
“Lack of transparency in supply chains today poses serious financial and reputational risks for brands,” said Gizem Yagiz, managing partner at 212 NexT Fund. “Haelixa’s DNA-based approach materially reduces this risk by scientifically verifying product origin and authenticity directly on the product itself.”
The company’s technology is already used across fashion and textiles, as well as precious metals and gemstones, and is compliant with standards including GOTS and Oeko-Tex certifications. Without divulging specific names, the company reported it has signed multiyear agreements with large fashion brands.
“This investment enables us to scale globally as regulatory and market expectations for traceability continue to rise,” said chief executive officer Patrick Strumpf. He added that the company is expanding into anti-counterfeiting solutions for luxury brands.
Worldly Expands Product Impact Calculator to New Categories, Including Sporting Goods and Footwear
Cascale’s sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform Worldly, formerly known as Higg Co., has expanded its Product Impact Calculator to cover more than 260 product categories, enabling brands to measure carbon footprints and corporate-level Scope 3 emissions with primary data rather than estimates.
Originally focused on apparel categories, the tool now spans home goods, furniture, sporting goods, footwear and more, allowing multicategory companies to identify emissions hotspots, model decarbonization scenarios, and prioritize reduction strategies across complex global supply chains.
By integrating material- and supplier-level data at scale, the new tool provides more precise and actionable data than life cycle assessments, the company said.
“Scope 3 used to be a guessing game,” said Worldly chief executive officer Scott Raskin. “With this expansion, brands no longer have to choose between speed and accuracy — they can have both.”
The update also adds enhanced modeling of category-specific packaging, assembly impacts, and real-world use behavior, which over time can significantly affect total environmental impact.
Footwear models are aligned with the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) to support emerging regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSDR) and France’s Environmental Cost labeling.
Worldly’s clients, including Kathmandu, Oboz and RipCurl parent company KMD Brands and Komar, licensee of sleepwear including DKNY, Kate Spade, Tommy Bahama and Ralph Lauren, are among those already using the tool.
