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Nature Coatings has raised $4.5M across 2 funding rounds.
Nature Coatings has raised $4.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Nature Coatings has raised $4.5M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.5M Seed in August 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2023 | $2.5M Seed | DAN Fishman, Tracy Gray | Leonardo Dicaprio, Portfolia, Safer Made | Announced |
| May 1, 2023 | $2M Seed | — | Alate Partners, Braemar Energy Ventures, Camber Creek, Canvas Ventures, Eniac Ventures, Fifth Wall, Maven Ventures, Plug & Play Ventures, Spark Capital, The 22 Capital Group, James Beshara, John Melas Kyriazi, Leonardo Dicaprio, Troy Billett | Announced |
Nature Coatings has raised $4.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Nature Coatings's investors include Dan Fishman, Tracy Gray, Leonardo DiCaprio, Portfolia, Safer Made, Alate Partners, Braemar Energy Ventures, Camber Creek, Canvas Ventures, ENIAC Ventures, Fifth Wall, Maven Ventures.
Nature Coatings is a biochemicals startup that develops BioBlack, a 100% bio-based black pigment dispersion made from wood waste, serving as a non-toxic, carbon-negative replacement for petroleum-derived carbon black.[1][3][4][6] The company targets industries like fashion textiles, coatings, inks, cosmetics, and industrial applications, solving the environmental problems of traditional pigments—such as high CO2 emissions, carcinogens (e.g., PAHs), and zero bio-renewable content—by offering drop-in solutions that work with existing equipment and formulations.[1][3][5] With steady growth, including multiple VC funding tranches up to 2025, partnerships with IKEA and Asahi, in-house large-scale manufacturing since 2024, and awards like the Alle Award for BioBlack Beauty, Nature Coatings has expanded from fashion to cosmetics and beyond, raising $2.45M in known funding while maintaining revenue under $5M and a small team.[1][2][4]
Founded in 2016, Nature Coatings emerged from the expertise of Jane, a pigment and dye specialist in the apparel industry who launched Noon Design Studio in 2010—the first U.S. dye house focused on plant-based dyes.[1][2] Recognizing limitations like poor colorfastness, high costs, water use, and inconsistency in natural dyes, Jane shifted to bio-based pigments, leading to the development of high-performing black pigments from wood waste.[2] Early traction included a 2016 National Science Foundation Award, 2017 acceptance into Fashion for Good Accelerator and LACI incubator, 2018 incorporation with first VC funding, and 2019 Copenhagen Fashion Summit win.[1] Pivotal moments: 2020 market debut with a major fashion house and second funding; 2021 launch of the first 100% bio-based black dispersion.[1]
Nature Coatings rides the sustainability wave in materials science, capitalizing on rising demand for bio-based alternatives amid global regulations on petrochemicals, Scope 3 emissions, and circular economy mandates.[1][3][6] Timing aligns with cleantech acceleration—post-2017 incubators and 2020s funding surges—fueled by fashion's push for renewables (e.g., Copenhagen Summit) and expansions into cosmetics/industrials as consumer brands like IKEA prioritize low-carbon supply chains.[1] Market forces like volatile oil prices, ESG investing, and waste valorization favor its carbon-negative model, influencing ecosystems by enabling toxin-free, high-performance upgrades without retooling, thus scaling bio-materials adoption.[2][4][5]
Nature Coatings is poised for accelerated scaling with its 2025 funding, partnerships, and manufacturing maturity, likely targeting deeper penetration in cosmetics, packaging, and automotive coatings amid tightening sustainability regs.[1][6] Trends like AI-driven materials discovery, corporate net-zero pledges, and bio-economy growth will amplify its edge, potentially evolving it into a platform for other bio-pigments while partnerships expand global reach.[1][2] As bio-based blacks disrupt a multi-billion carbon black market, expect acquisition interest from majors, cementing its role in harmonizing chemistry with nature.[1][3][6]
