Bavaria’s AMSilk raises €52M to scale production of silk-based biomaterials

Bavaria-based AMSilk, a company specialised in advanced biomaterials made from silk-based proteins, has secured €52M (€30M in equity, and €22M in convertible bonds) in a funding round led by existing investor ATHOS (AT Newtec).

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ATHOS KG is a Munich-based single-family office. With a background in healthcare and life sciences, the company focuses on investing in teams with strong scientific expertise and technology-driven companies that follow an entrepreneurial and value-based approach.

Daniel Kolb, Investment Manager at ATHOS KG, adds, “AMSilk’s transition to full-scale production signals strong commercial validation. The Company’s ability to manufacture biofabricated materials at multi-ton volumes confirms its industrial viability and readiness to meet growing market demand. At ATHOS, we invest in companies that combine deep technological innovation with clear commercial potential, and AMSilk exemplifies this philosophy.”

Other existing investors, including MIG Capital and Novo Holdings, also participated.

The funding will help AMSilk grow its business and meet the increasing global demand for silk-based protein materials.

The German company has signed several multi-year production agreements, establishing a long-term basis for industrial output and supply reliability.

Dedicated manufacturing facilities, designed for AMSilk’s silk-based protein materials, have been set up with its industrial partners.

This enables the German company to produce at scale with consistent quality and reliability across its product portfolio.

Ralph Fraundorfer, Chief Financial Officer of AMSilk, comments, “We are grateful to our shareholders for their continued support – especially in today’s challenging funding environment. The investment demonstrates confidence in our clear path to market, scalable technology and strong partner network. As we move to industrial-scale production, we are focused on establishing robust processes and resilient supply chains — providing clear commercial proof of our ability to deliver on our industrial commitments and scale our innovative biomaterials for global markets.”

AMSilk: Producing silk-based proteins

Led by Ulrich Scherbel, AMSilk has created a sustainable technology that produces silk-based proteins.

This process modifies microorganisms to generate proteins that can be made into various forms, such as powders, gels, fibres, and coatings.

These materials are 100% protein-based, biodegradable, and free of microplastics. They are used to make new fibres for the fashion and automotive industries, as well as ingredients for consumer care products.

There are also many other potential uses for this technology in different industries, claims the company.

After successfully extending its Series C financing in 2023, AMSilk has strengthened its business by forming strategic partnerships with major global brands in the fashion, automotive, and consumer care industries, such as Evonik and Ajinomoto.

Dr Wolfgang Colberg, Chairman of AMSilk’s Advisory Board, states, “At AMSilk, we are very excited about the enthusiasm of our customers for our products and the high demand we are seeing. With the committed funding from our investors, we can now work with our partners to massively scale-up production. This is a significant step towards establishing a completely new industry in Europe and around the world for high-performance biotech materials that can be used in countless applications.”