Brightplus is taking a big leap.
The Finnish biomaterials firm has raised over $2 million in funding to take its flagship textile coating technology, BrightBio, from pilot scale to full production.
Zurich technology-driven impact investor Collateral Good led the round, with co-lead investment from Nordic Butterfly Ventures, a Helsinki-headquartered investment firm focused on early-stage innovations—especially those in deep tech and hardware—that reportedly captured 20 percent of the region’s market within five years of founding. Additional investors included private equity fund Nordic Option and venture capital firm FutureLab-X, among others.
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Brightplus turns industrial side-stream inputs and natural resources into sustainable, high-performing alternatives to conventional fossil-based materials. The Finnish firm develops advanced, bio-sourced materials using a circular economy model by leveraging its proprietary BrightBio technology—which the Oulu-based bio-business calls the “first truly scalable and renewable coating that enables the recycling of coated textiles.”
“We have deep understanding of different sustainable raw materials and how to combine them into functional solutions and recipes that deliver performance without compromise,” said Milja Hannu-Kuure, CEO of Brightplus. “Safe, European-sourced raw materials are also a key advantage that helps us stand out in the international market.”
The BrightBio filaments are based on the chemical compound polylactic acid—a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane. These PLA-based filaments are modified with BrightBio technology, the renewable materials manufacturer said, promoting a circular economy model.
Because the BrightBio materials are derived from renewable monomers as well as polymers from nature and non-edible vegetable oils, the solution is fully circular; both the coating and the fabric can be recycled after use, the green chemistry and circular solutions developer said. The BrightBio filament for 3D printing, for instance, incorporates industrial side-streams like bio-ash (40 percent) with other offerings up to 99.5 percent renewable content. By using drop-in compatible granules on standard industrial lines, Brightplus said, the team can swiftly scale its solution while keeping its emissions, complexity and capital expenditures (CapEx) low.
“We have proven the effectiveness of our technology in pilot projects with leading brands,” Hannu-Kuure said. “We’re now ready to scale this sustainable vision into practice.”
After launching in the glass coating space, Brightplus is now targeting textiles, where PFAS bans and circularity mandates are ramping up regulatory pressure. The circular and functional textile coating made from renewable biobased raw materials achieved Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification in November. The Swiss chemical management company defined BrightBio’s scope as “partly biobased granulate based on partly biobased polyester, cellulose derivative and non-edible side stream soybean oil” and “intended for coating on textiles, for water repellent properties or as stand-alone artificial leather.”
“Pure water is one of the most precious resources on the planet—that’s why BrightBio was designed as a fully waterless solution. It sets a new standard for ethical, regulation-ready coated textiles,” said Jarkko Leivo, chief technology officer and co-founder at Brightplus. “Our one-layer tech delivers multiple performance features fitting seamlessly into the existing workflows without the burden of green premium.”
Brightplus will use the funding to leave the lab by “investing into the digital tools and local sourcing fuel necessary for a sustainable scale-up.” Key to transitioning its coating technology from pilot scale to full industrial production is the startup’s ability to adapt.
“At Collateral Good, we invest in solutions with the potential to reshape entire industries,” said Mariana Gonzalez, principal at Collateral Good. “Brightplus stands out with a commercially viable, PFAS-free, biobased coating technology that meets real market demand.”
With a 10.7 percent increase in U.S. bioplastics exports at its fastest annual gain in the past decade, per preliminary data from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), market demand suggests that investing in the regulation-ready and cost-competitive platform was something of a natural fit for Collateral Good.
Brightplus uses materials derived from industrial side-streams—including the food and forest industry’s bio-ash outputs—to reduce industry dependence on non-renewable inputs. For Collateral Good, this “radically local and circular approach” aligns with the Simplifyber-backing firm’s mission to support climate-positive efforts across the fashion industry and textile sector.
“By sourcing raw materials from agricultural waste streams, Brightplus not only address a critical sustainability gap but do so with strong economics,” Gonzalez said. “We’re excited to back a highly-experienced founding team that combines deep industry knowledge with a clear vision for scaling impact.”
That highly-experienced team is spread across three countries and four cities. The Finnish material science developer operates out of Oulu with three additional offices—one in the southern region’s lakeside city Tampere, the second in Manchester, England and the third in Ljubljana, Slovenia—specializing in biobased coatings and bioplastics for textiles, glass and packaging. Founded in 2014, the team of 15 celebrated 10 years with 2024 revenues exceeding 1 million euros.
“Customer-validated added value, the team’s top expertise and a strong patent portfolio providing sustainable competitive advantage made our investment decision easy,” said Ville Heikkinen, partner at Butterfly Ventures. “We’ve made many investments related to sustainability and received recognition for it; Brightplus fits perfectly into our focus area. The huge benefits of its solution compared to competitors will accelerate the company’s growth.”
