PACT Secures £9 Million Funding to Scale Revolutionary Collagen-Based Biomaterials Production

Image Credit: PACT

Cambridge-based biomaterials startup PACT has secured £9m in funding to advance the large-scale production of its groundbreaking natural collagen-derived materials. These innovative, leather-like materials are poised to impact multiple industries significantly.

The seed funding round, which saw participation from Hoxton Ventures, ReGen Ventures, Celsius Industries, and Polytechnique Ventures, will enable PACT to ramp up its production capabilities, accelerate biomaterial innovation, and introduce new eco-friendly materials to the fashion sector and beyond.

With ambitions extending into the footwear, interiors, and automotive industries, PACT is gearing up to broaden its market reach while continuing to develop a diverse range of biomaterials.

To fuel this growth, the company recently invested in a sprawling 13,820-square-foot headquarters in Cambridge, complete with a state-of-the-art laboratory and pilot production facility.

Founded in 2020 by CEO and scientist Yudí Ding, alongside COO Niels Ramay, a physicist and engineer, PACT is at the forefront of sustainable material innovation, offering a greener alternative to traditional leather production.

"Our commitment at PACT is to craft beautiful, adaptable materials inspired by and derived from the natural world," said Ding. "We have poured energy and creativity into our innovations, ensuring they can meet the standards of the world's most prestigious brands and respect their heritage whilst also being truly scalable. "By partnering with luxury maisons on these new foundational materials, we stand on the cusp of a new era of collaboration between science and elegance; one where sustainability is fused and suffused with beauty.

"Bringing these esteemed investors, who have deep connections to and understanding of the industry, on board will help us accelerate our progress to date, work with more client partners worldwide, and unlock further biomaterial breakthroughs."

PACT utilizes patented processes to transform natural, cosmetic-grade collagen—commonly found in luxury skincare and pharmaceuticals—into high-quality collagen skins. These materials are enriched with natural ingredients and treated using leather industry finishing techniques, creating a sustainable alternative to traditional leather.

One key advantage of PACT's biomaterials is that they are designed as "drop-in solutions," meaning manufacturers don't need to overhaul their machinery or production methods to adopt them. Currently, PACT is collaborating with companies in the luxury fashion supply chain to facilitate the global adoption of its eco-friendly materials.

Textile and leather production contributes a staggering 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. PACT claims its process is far more sustainable, using significantly less water and drastically reducing CO2 emissions. In fact, the company estimates that if just one percent of current leather and synthetic-coated textiles were replaced with its biomaterials, it could save an impressive 4.8 million tonnes of CO2e every year.

"The company's innovative biomaterial technology combines the aesthetics - such as touch, look, and refined ageing - of heritage materials, with high-performance and scalable economic production," said Charles Seely, general partner at Hoxton Ventures, who led the seed round. "This meets the rigorous demands of leading companies in luxury and beyond. We're excited to be part of their journey."

PACT has announced several key appointments to bolster its efforts to scale up the production of its pioneering collagen-based biomaterials. Candice Koo, formerly with French luxury design house Hermès, has come on board as vice president of growth. Additionally, Zuleyka Strasner, founder of the California-based plastic-free grocery delivery platform Zero, has been appointed vice president of strategy.

Dr. Jason Camp, who previously served as CTO at bio-based product innovators Circa Group and currently chairs the Science and Enterprise Group at the Society of Chemical Industry, has joined PACT as vice president of product development. These strategic hires aim to accelerate PACT’s mission of transforming the materials industry with sustainable, collagen-derived alternatives.