Naturbeads
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About
Naturbeads is a Bath, UK-based materials startup, spun out of the University of Bath in 2018 by Professor Davide Mattia, the late Professor Janet Scott, and Dr Giovanna Laudisio 12. Its patented process turns cellulose into uniform biodegradable microspheres that mimic the size, shape, and performance of plastic microparticles, targeted at cosmetics, paints, coatings, detergents, adhesives, leather, and biomedical devices 12. A €4.1M EU grant, announced April 23, 2026, will fund Naturbeads’ first commercial plant in Puglia, Italy, scheduled to start commercial production in June 2026 12. The grant adds to the company’s £7.8M Series A, which closed in November 2024 with Eos Advisory, Progress Tech Transfer, and CDP Venture Capital 12.
Funding History
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead | Co-investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-15 | Series A | £7.8M | Eos Advisory | Progress Tech Transfer, CDP Venture Capital (Corporate Partners I Fund), PI-NB, Paragon Capital Management (Paragon Ventures I) 123 |
| 2026-04-23 | EU Grant | €4.1M | European Union | 12 |
What Investors Say
No independently sourced investor quotes found.
What Founders Say
No independently sourced founder quotes found.
Sources
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Tech Funding News, “Bath University spinout replacing microplastics with plant beads just got €4.1M to open its Italian factory,” April 2026. https://techfundingnews.com/naturbeads-eu-grant-puglia-commercial-plant-biodegradable-microspheres/↩↩↩↩↩↩
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University of Bath announcement, “Bath-founded startup Naturbeads receives major new funding for factory,” April 2026. https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/bath-founded-startup-naturbeads-receives-major-new-funding-for-factory/↩↩↩↩↩↩
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BusinessWire, “UK Startup Naturbeads Secures Series A Round to Further Pioneering Technology That Addresses Worldwide Microplastic Pollution,” November 14, 2024. Accessed May 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241114197195/en/UK-Startup-Naturbeads-Secures-Series-A-Round-to-Further-Pioneering-Technology-That-Addresses-Worldwide-Microplastic-Pollution — Confirms Eos Advisory led £7.8M Series A on November 15, 2024; existing investor Progress Tech Transfer plus new investors CDP Venture Capital (Corporate Partners I Fund), PI-NB, and Paragon Capital Management (Paragon Ventures I) participated. ↩