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FabricNano is a London, UK-based biotechnology company that develops cell-free biomanufacturing technology by immobilizing enzymes on DNA wafers to sustainably produce chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceutical drugs without utilizing living cells. The enterprise provides bespoke bio-based alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-dependent industrial chemistry processes, targeting commercial manufacturers across the synthetic biology, plastics, and detergent sectors. Operating with an estimated headcount of 11 to 30 employees, the organization targets an industrial market exceeding $75 billion by enabling highly scalable and cost-effective biocatalysis solutions. The venture-backed startup has raised just under $25 million in total equity funding, which includes a $12.5 million Series A financing round. Notable investors in the company include lead backer Atomico, alongside Hoxton Ventures, Entrepreneur First, and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. FabricNano was officially established in 2018 by founder and chief executive officer Grant Aarons.
FabricNano has raised $16.0M across 2 funding rounds.
FabricNano has raised $16.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
FabricNano has raised $16.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $13.0M Series A in June 2021.
FabricNano is a synthetic biology company developing cell-free biocatalysts that enable sustainable, bio-based chemical production as an alternative to fossil fuels.[1][2][3][4] It builds immobilized enzyme technologies, such as DNA wafers and natural carriers like coffee grinds or rocks, paired with enzymes to produce chemicals for cleaning products, bio-pharmaceuticals, bio-fuels, bio-plastics, and applications like CO2 sequestration in soil or toxin removal in laundry.[3][4][5][6] Serving clients from startups to giants like Sumitomo Chemical, FabricNano solves the environmental impact of petroleum-derived chemicals—which account for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—by offering drop-in biocatalysts that integrate into existing industrial reactors for profitable, low-emission manufacturing.[1][4][5] Founded in 2018, the company has raised over $16 million, expanded its team, and scaled technologies like FabricFlow reactors, showing strong growth in the climate tech and synbio sectors.[3][4]
FabricNano was founded in 2018 in London by Grant Aarons and Ferdinando Randisi, two friends who met through the Entrepreneur First accelerator, a technology startup builder.[3][4] Aarons and Randisi, drawing from interdisciplinary expertise in the "golden triangle" of Oxford, Cambridge, and London, identified a gap in biomanufacturing: traditional methods rely on enzymes inside cells or microbes, but lacked a generalized way to immobilize enzymes for cell-free processes.[2][3][5] The idea emerged from developing a "drop-in" biocatalyst using DNA wafers to stabilize enzymes, enabling efficient production from waste inputs like glycerin from biodiesel.[3] Early traction came via clients seeking stable biocatalysts, leading to a $12.5 million raise in 2021 (part of $16 million total) to grow from 12 to 30 employees and launch FabricFlow reactors.[3][4] Pivotal moments include partnerships with Sumitomo Chemical and expansions into detox applications, humanizing their mission to "make enzymes work for people and planet."[2][4][6]
FabricNano stands out in synthetic biology through these key advantages:
FabricNano rides the sustainable manufacturing wave at the intersection of climate tech, synthetic biology, and industrial biotech, addressing the chemical industry's fossil fuel reliance amid rising decarbonization pressures.[2][5] Timing is ideal as global regulations target Scope 3 emissions and "forever chemicals," with bio-based alternatives gaining traction—petroleum chemicals emit 10% of GHGs, creating a multi-trillion market for drop-in solutions.[5] Market forces like cheap waste feedstocks (e.g., biodiesel glycerin) and enzyme advances favor cell-free tech over energy-intensive cell-based methods, enabling circular economy shifts in fashion, packaging, and cleaning.[1][4] By licensing stable biocatalysts and scaling reactors, FabricNano influences the ecosystem, accelerating synbio adoption and partnering with incumbents to "detoxify the planet and home."[5][6]
FabricNano is poised to expand its FabricFlow platform and client base, targeting larger-scale production of bio-chemicals for plastics and detox applications amid tightening emissions rules.[4][5] Trends like AI-driven protein design, falling enzyme costs, and policy incentives for bio-manufacturing will propel growth, potentially capturing share in the $500B+ chemicals market.[5] Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to industry enabler, powering a fossil-free future through enzymes—as it began, trailblazing cell-free tech to sustain the chemicals we depend on.[2][3]
FabricNano has raised $16.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
FabricNano's investors include Siraj Khaliq, AIX Ventures, Amadeus Capital Partners, Atomico, Blossom Capital, BoxOne Ventures, Dawn Capital, Dell Technologies Capital, General Catalyst, Hitachi Ventures, Hoxton Ventures, Insight Partners.
