Earth VC Backs Cambrium’s Push for Eco-Friendly Materials

Earth Venture Capital (Earth VC), a venture capital firm based in Vietnam that focuses on climate-friendly investments globally, has announced its involvement in the seed extension round for Cambrium, which is being led by Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI-focused investment fund.

In addition to Gradient Ventures, the funding round also attracted participation from other investors, including Leblon Capital, SeaX Ventures, and DG Daiwa. The collaboration is expected to accelerate the evolution of sustainable materials. 

Cambrium utilizes protein as a building block for eco-friendly production. By integrating biotechnology and generative AI, the company aims to produce biodegradable materials that serve as alternatives to conventional petrochemical products. 

Their outlook aligns with Earth VC’s mission to support technologies that support a sustainable future. It reflects Cambrium’s guiding philosophy of “Microbes, not Mines; fermenters, not Factory Farms; and Proteins, not Petrochemicals.”

The need for sustainable materials is growing quickly, fueled by practical applications and specific product opportunities. In this context, Cambrium’s leading product, NovaColl™, a precision-fermented collagen that closely resembles human skin, is scheduled to be released in September 2024.

Furthermore, the company is working with a prominent synthetic leather manufacturer to create plastic-free leather alternatives for the fashion sector, expected to launch by 2025. These efforts are designed to align with changing consumer demands and adhere to more stringent chemical regulations.

The biomaterials sector, which had a market value of USD 82 billion in 2023, is expected to grow at an annual rate of 13.4% by 2030. Cambrium can potentially capitalize on this trend, as it is actively developing new products for hair care, textile coatings, and nutraceuticals over the next two to three years. 

Since its inception in 2020, Cambrium has successfully raised EUR 11 million in funding, which will enhance its production capabilities and accelerate product development across various sectors. The company has been recognized as one of Berlin’s top 10 startups and one of Europe’s 100 hottest startups by WIRED, 

Mitchell Duffy, Co-founder and CEO of Cambrium, expressed views on Earth VC’s involvement, stating, “This aligns with our strategic goals of expanding our customer base within Southeast Asia and supports our mission to create materials that matter.”

With the investment in Cambrium, Earth VC aims to minimize the environmental impact of materials production. Tien Nguyen, Founding Partner at Earth VC, said, “Investing in Cambrium is a direct bet on the future of sustainable materials, a market projected to hit $138 billion by 2030. With traditional materials responsible for 23% of global emissions, the urgency to disrupt this space is undeniable. Cambrium’s protein-based innovations are the game-changer we need to decarbonize industries at scale. It’s not every day you see a company building proteins from 900 million structures and 100 design metrics—this is the kind of bold innovation that Earth VC stands behind”,