Cambridge’s PACT raises €17.2M to scale its collagen-based alternative to plastic textiles

Cambridge-based PACT raised investment in a Series A round to scale its sustainable biomaterial platform. Know more about it below.

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Cambridge-based PACT, a company specialised in biomaterials, has secured over $20M (approximately €17.2M) in Series A financing, co-led by Forbion (through Forbion’s BioEconomy Fund I) and HV Capital with participation from existing investors.

Forbion is a global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and offices in Naarden, the Netherlands, Munich, Germany, and Boston, USA.

Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5B across multiple fund strategies covering all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical drug development.

“PACT has combined scientific rigour with design excellence to create a biomaterial platform that meets the highest standards of performance, sustainability, and scalability,” says Joy Faucher, Partner at Forbion BioEconomy. 

Fund utilisation

The funding will accelerate Oval’s commercial rollout and support the scale-up of production capacity at the company’s newly commissioned pilot line in Cambridge.

PACT’s flagship product, Oval, is a next-generation collagen-based biomaterial designed for roll-to-roll manufacturing.

“Oval is engineered to meet the creative, commercial, and environmental demands of global brands, offering a drop-in solution to replace plastic across fashion, interiors, footwear, and automotive applications,” says the company.

PACT has a 13,000-square-foot facility that includes laboratory and pilot production areas.

“We believe Oval has the potential to redefine how global brands source and use materials, offering a credible and commercially viable alternative to plastic-coated textiles and beyond,” adds Faucher. 

This expansion comes as brands face mounting pressure from new EU regulations mandating stricter sustainability practices and improved supply chain transparency.

The funding will also help the scale-up meet demand from leading luxury maisons and lifestyle brands, and open new markets in interiors, footwear, and automotive applications.

PACT: Specialises in material design

Led by Dr. Yudí Ding, PACT specialises in material design through the use of natural resources through a blend of collagen, herbal extracts, oils, and minerals sourced directly from the earth.

“I’ve always been obsessed with creating new materials that are not only functional and kind to the planet, but also inherently beautiful — materials that feel gentle on the skin, supple, and pleasing to touch,” says Dr. Yudí Ding, co-founder and CEO of PACT.

PACT’s biomaterial offers a scalable and sustainable alternative to traditional textile coatings, such as plastic, with unique aesthetics and handfeel. 

The company’s flagship solution – Oval is made using a special process that repurposes surplus cosmetic-grade collagen and adds herbal extracts and natural oils. It is designed to be traceable and works well with current supply chains.

“As a Cambridge-trained scientist, developing them in the lab isn’t the hard part; the real challenge lies in scaling them to meet the exacting standards of the textile industry. From our very first investment, I realised that industrialisation and scalability are essential to making materials innovation truly succeed. That’s why we see existing manufacturers as key partners in this journey,” adds Dr. Yudí Ding.

Early-stage and growth investor

HV Capital is an early-stage and growth investor in Europe. With nine fund generations in 25 years and €2.8B in managed assets, HV Capital has invested in more than 250 internet and technology companies, supporting startups with ticket sizes ranging from €0.5M to €60M.

“HV Capital is thrilled to back PACT as they redefine how sustainable consumer materials can scale in fashion and other markets. Their formulations are true drop-in solutions-seamlessly integrating into existing manufacturing infrastructure to replace high-volume, revenue-driving SKUs, not just niche capsule collections. What excites us most is Yudi and the team’s rare combination of deep technical expertise and a genuine understanding of fashion customers. That blend positions PACT to lead the industry’s transition at scale, not at the margins”, says Maxi Pethö-Schramm, Principal at HV Capital.