AmphiStar
AmphiStar BV is a Belgian biotech company founded in 2021 that develops, scales, and sells sophorolipid biosurfactants made entirely from bio-based waste and side streams, serving consumer-product manufacturers in Personal Care, Home Care, and Industrial & Institutional cleaning via its AmphiCare®, AmphiClean®, and AmphiNova® platforms and regional distribution partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersGhent, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AmphiStar does
AmphiStar BV is a Belgian biotechnology company founded in 2021 as a spin-off from Ghent University's InBio research group and the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. It develops, scales up, produces, and sells sophorolipid biosurfactants manufactured entirely from bio-based waste and side streams (such as food waste, crude glycerine, and agricultural by-products) using proprietary microbial fermentation with the yeast Starmerella bombicola. The company's core technology combines synthetic biology, patented continuous fermentation processes (validated for 75 days using only waste feedstocks), and bioprocess scale-up demonstrated at 15 m³, and is encapsulated in its AmphiNova® platform of more than 80 designer biosurfactant molecules. Its commercial product portfolio comprises AmphiCare® for personal care (shampoos, facial cleansers, makeup removers, skincare) and AmphiClean® for home care (dishwashing, laundry, multi-surface cleaners), with sophorolipid variants available in standard and ultra-purity grades.
AmphiStar operates a B2B ingredient-supply business model selling to consumer-product manufacturers in Personal Care, Home Care, and Industrial & Institutional cleaning. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated through both direct product sales and Joint Development Agreements (technology licensing and co-development) for specific AmphiNova® molecules. The company reaches global markets exclusively through regional distribution partnerships: Stepan Company (EMEA Home Care and I&I, branded NOVATENSIA™ SL), Kensing LLC (North America Personal Care and Home Care, branded Regenyl™ and Revolis™), and Caldic (European Personal Care). Named end-customers are limited but include Ecover, which launched the first waste-based sophorolipid consumer product through the EU-funded WASTE2FUNC Project. Pricing is positioned as a premium sustainable alternative, supported by third-party-verified Life Cycle Assessment data showing 4× lower CO2, 18× lower water use, and 15× lower biodiversity impact versus conventional surfactant benchmarks.
AmphiStar has raised more than €21M cumulatively across pre-Series A equity (€6M led by ECBF in April 2024), non-dilutive SPRIND grants (€6M across 2023–2025), and a €12.5M EIC blended-funding award in July 2025. The team is led by CEO Pierre-Franck Valentin (former surfactants industry executive, appointed April 2024) alongside the four scientific co-founders and CFO Wim Allegaert (joined June 2025). The company currently employs 11–50 people at its Ghent headquarters and is engineering a 1,000-tonnes-per-annum production facility while expanding into new geographies and verticals.
AmphiStar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AmphiStar
- Legal name
- AmphiStar BV
- Website
- https://amphistar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AmphiStar BV is a Belgian biotech company founded in 2021 that develops, scales, and sells sophorolipid biosurfactants made entirely from bio-based waste and side streams, serving consumer-product manufacturers in Personal Care, Home Care, and Industrial & Institutional cleaning via its AmphiCare®, AmphiClean®, and AmphiNova® platforms and regional distribution partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AmphiStar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biosurfactants
- NAICS
- Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based Surfactants, Detergent Ingredients & Oleochemicals (EUAAAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL), Bio-based Solvents & Process Chemicals (e.g., bio-acetone, bio-butanol, bio-IPA, green solvents) (EUAAAIAB)
Keywords
Where AmphiStar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ghent
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AmphiStar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Biosurfactant Product Sales: AmphiStar generates revenue through the sale of microbial biosurfactant products (AmphiCare® for personal care, AmphiClean® for home care) to consumer product manufacturers. Products are sold in various purity levels and formulations as drop-in replacements for conventional surfactants.
- Technology Licensing and Co-development: Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) with partners for specific AmphiNova molecules, enabling targeted strategic co-development. Partnerships include technology transfer for localized production in different regions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing for B2B customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
AmphiStar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AmphiStar develops, scales up, produces, and sells microbial sophorolipid biosurfactants manufactured entirely from biobased waste and side streams using proprietary continuous fermentation technology. The company supplies these high-performance, sustainable biosurfactant ingredients as drop-in replacements for conventional surfactants to consumer product manufacturers serving personal care, home care, and industrial & institutional (I&I) cleaning markets. Revenue is generated through direct product sales (AmphiCare®, AmphiClean®, sophorolipid portfolio), Joint Development Agreements, and technology licensing via regional distribution partners including Stepan, Kensing, and Caldic.
Product overview
AmphiStar offers a portfolio of microbial biosurfactants produced entirely from bio-based waste and side streams. The core product line consists of AmphiCare® (personal care) and AmphiClean® (home care), which were the first commercially available fully upcycled biosurfactants launched in October 2024. The AmphiNova® platform extends the portfolio with 80+ designer biosurfactant molecules for specialized applications. The sophorolipid portfolio includes high lactonic, high acidic, and customized mixture formulations available in standard and ultra purity levels, serving diverse markets from cosmetics to industrial cleaning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AmphiNova®: Proprietary platform of over 80 biosurfactant molecules developed through synthetic biology and bioprocessing for next-generation sustainable surfactants
- AmphiCare®
- AmphiClean®
Products and services
- AmphiCare® AmphiCare® is AmphiStar's first fully upcycled sophorolipid biosurfactant designed for personal care applications including hand soaps, shampoos, facial cleansers, makeup removers, moisturizers, body lotions, and wet wipes. It functions as emulsifier and co-surfactant in both rinse-off and leave-on formulations, is certified non-irritant to eyes (OECD 492B compliant), mild on skin, and free from sulfates, palm oil, fossil-based ingredients, and 1,4-dioxane. Targeted at personal care and cosmetics brand owners seeking sustainable, mild, high-performance surfactant ingredients.
- AmphiClean® AmphiClean® is AmphiStar's fully upcycled sophorolipid biosurfactant formulated for home care applications including dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, multi-surface cleaners, degreasers, and hard surface cleaners. It delivers high-performance cleaning with 50-70% lower CO₂ emissions compared to fossil- and palm-based surfactants. Targeted at home care and cleaning product manufacturers seeking high-performance, biodegradable cleaning ingredients with superior sustainability profiles.
- AmphiNova® Biosurfactant Platform AmphiNova® is AmphiStar's proprietary platform comprising more than 80 distinct biosurfactant molecules developed through 15+ years of synthetic biology and bioprocessing research. It enables design and delivery of designer sophorolipid surfactants with tailored functional properties for specific application requirements across personal care, home care, and industrial markets. Accessed by customers through Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) and direct market launches of selected molecules, AmphiNova® extends the portfolio beyond the initial AmphiCare® and AmphiClean® offerings.
- Sophorolipid Product Portfolio The Sophorolipid Product Portfolio is AmphiStar's diverse range of second-generation (2G) sophorolipids including high lactonic, high acidic, and customized lactonic/acidic mixtures available in standard and ultra purity levels. Includes variants such as acetylated lactonic sophorolipid C18:1, non-acetylated acidic sophorolipid C18:1, bola sophorolipids, and alkyl sophorosides with varying HLB values for different applications. Targeted at formulators and product developers in cosmetics, home care, and industrial cleaning who require specific functional properties and purity grades.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4× reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to non-upcycled sophorolipids, 6× vs synthetic SLES, 9.5× vs Amine Oxides
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use AmphiStar
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AmphiStar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AmphiStar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kensing LLCcoreStrategic partnership to bring AmphiStar's upcycled biosurfactants to North American personal care and home care markets. Kensing distributes Regenyl™ (Personal Care) and Revolis™ (Home Care) products and will develop regionally sourced circular feedstocks with near-term plans to fully onshore production in the US.
- Stepan CompanycoreExclusive distribution partnership for AmphiStar's bio-based surfactants across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) targeting Home Care and Industrial & Institutional cleaning markets. Stepan provides formulation expertise and established commercial channels. Products sold under NOVATENSIA™ SL brand.
- CaldiccoreExclusive partnership to distribute and promote AmphiStar's 100% upcycled biosurfactants for personal care applications across Europe. Caldic leverages its extensive European customer base and application labs to accelerate biosurfactant adoption.
- EcoverminorFirst market introduction partner for waste-based sophorolipids through WASTE2FUNC Project. Ecover launched consumer product featuring AmphiStar's biosurfactants.
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)coreCo-founder organization and current shareholder. Independent pilot facility for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of innovative biobased products. AmphiStar originated from collaboration between Ghent University and BBEPP.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AmphiStar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Holiferm: UK-based biosurfactant startup producing sophorolipids and glycolipids via fermentation. Closest direct competitor to AmphiStar in the yeast-derived biosurfactant space, also targeting personal care and home care applications.
- Locus Fermentation Solutions: US-based biosurfactant producer (rhamnolipids and sophorolipids) serving oil & gas, agriculture, and personal care. Directly comparable technology platform and go-to-market motion via B2B ingredient sales.
Broad incumbents
- Stepan Company: Major global surfactant manufacturer and AmphiStar's EMEA distribution partner. Operates in the same end markets (personal care, home care, I&I) with petrochemical-derived surfactants, representing both a partner and competitive threat.
- Evonik Industries: Global specialty chemicals incumbent with biosurfactant (REWOFERM rhamnolipid) line, broad surfactant portfolio, and deep CPG customer relationships. Represents the scaled incumbent AmphiStar ultimately competes with for biobased share.
- Croda International: UK-listed specialty chemicals leader serving personal care, home care, and I&I with biobased and conventional surfactants. Comparable customer base and sustainability positioning in the CPG ingredient market.
- BioSynth Group: Specialty chemicals and bioproducts company (including AGAIA Technologies biosurfactants) supplying life sciences and industrial customers. Comparable fermentation-based specialty ingredients business.
- BASF Care Chemicals: World's largest chemical company with extensive surfactant portfolio (Plantapon, Texapon, Dehyton brands) serving the same personal care and home care customers AmphiStar targets. Sets the benchmark on price-performance that biosurfactants must match.
Regional players
- Kensing LLC: North American specialty ingredients manufacturer and AmphiStar's NA distribution partner producing Regenyl™ and Revolis™ brands. Operates in same surfactant value chain but as a regional downstream partner/competitor.
Emerging players
- TeeGene Biotech: UK-based biosurfactant startup developing microbial sophorolipids and rhamnolipids for cosmetics and cleaning. Direct technology overlap with AmphiStar at earlier stage.
- GlycoSurf: US-based startup developing sugar-based and glycolipid biosurfactants via enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic processes. Comparable early-stage biosurfactant innovator with overlap in personal care applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AmphiStar social profiles
Digital presenceAmphiStar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
AmphiStar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AmphiStar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
AmphiStar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AmphiStar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AmphiStar
What does AmphiStar do?
AmphiStar develops, scales up, produces, and sells microbial sophorolipid biosurfactants manufactured entirely from biobased waste and side streams using proprietary continuous fermentation technology. The company supplies these high-performance, sustainable biosurfactant ingredients as drop-in replacements for conventional surfactants to consumer product manufacturers serving personal care, home care, and industrial & institutional (I&I) cleaning markets. Revenue is generated through direct product sales (AmphiCare®, AmphiClean®, sophorolipid portfolio), Joint Development Agreements, and technology licensing via regional distribution partners including Stepan, Kensing, and Caldic.
Is AmphiStar a public or private company?
AmphiStar is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AmphiStar founded?
AmphiStar was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AmphiStar based?
AmphiStar is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does AmphiStar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Biosurfactant Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and Co-development.
Who are AmphiStar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Holiferm and Locus Fermentation Solutions. Broad incumbents are Stepan Company, Evonik Industries, Croda International, BioSynth Group and BASF Care Chemicals. Kensing LLC is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are TeeGene Biotech and GlycoSurf.
Does AmphiStar have an API?
No public API is recorded for AmphiStar.
What industry is AmphiStar in?
AmphiStar's product category is Biosurfactants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAIAE, Bio-based Surfactants, Detergent Ingredients & Oleochemicals, with a secondary code of EUAAAIAL, Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids). Its NAICS code is 325613 and its SIC code is 2860.