Luxembourg start-up Uplift360, has announced a seed round of €7.4m to accelerate the industrial deployment of its advanced composite regeneration technology. The round was led by Extantia, one of Europe’s leading high-tech venture capital funds, with significant contributions from investors such as the Nato Innovation Fund, Promus Ventures and Fund F.

This fundraising comes at a time when materials such as carbon fibre, aramids such as Kevlar, and hybrid composites have become indispensable in aeronautics, defence, high-performance automotive and wind energy. The availability of these materials directly conditions the production capacity and competitiveness of these key sectors in Europe.

Supply chains under pressure

These supply chains are currently under pressure. Geopolitical tensions are undermining access to virgin fibres, production of which remains limited. At the same time, waste from these technical composites is increasing, while treatment solutions remain complex and costly.

It is against this backdrop that the start-up has developed a chemical process aimed at regenerating these advanced components so that they can be reintroduced into high value-added applications. On the occasion of the fundraising, Uplift360’s CEO and co-founder, Sam Staincliffe, declared her delight with the financial backing. “This investment clearly demonstrates Europe’s commitment to becoming a leader in the sustainable manufacture of advanced materials. Thanks to their support, we are now in a position to accelerate our development,” she said.