ecovia I bio

What ecovia I bio does

Ecovia Bio is a biotechnology company that develops and manufactures 100% biobased and biodegradable gamma polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) biopolymers via proprietary fermentation technology. Founded in 2014 as a spinout from the University of Michigan, the company operates a feedstock-flexible microbial fermentation platform (mixing soil-isolated bacteria with modified E. coli) that the company claims produces γ-PGA at roughly 50% lower cost than traditional methods. In September 2025, Ecovia commissioned a 20,000 sq ft commercial production facility in Livonia, Michigan — becoming the first and only US manufacturer of polyglutamic acid and its derivatives — with management guiding full operational capacity by 2028.

The company sells two primary product families: AzuraBase (linear γ-PGA, ~500 kDa molecular weight, used as a humectant/moisture-retention polymer in cosmetics, agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment) and AzuraGel (crosslinked γ-PGA superabsorbent polymers absorbing up to 300x their weight in water, used in hygiene products, biomedical applications, packaging gels, and rheology modification). Both product lines are USDA Certified 100% Biobased and AzuraGel has demonstrated 92.7% biodegradation in 28 days under OECD 301B testing. The company also offers an industrial rheology modifiers product line launched in May 2023.

Ecovia generates revenue through three streams: (1) direct B2B sales of γ-PGA biopolymer products to enterprise manufacturers in cosmetics, personal care, agriculture, hygiene, food, packaging, and water treatment; (2) technology licensing of its fermentation platform (including an exclusive worldwide license from the University of Michigan); and (3) joint development agreements with channel partners, most notably Seppic Inc. (an Air Liquide subsidiary), which holds exclusive marketing rights for topical health and beauty applications under a multi-year JDA signed in 2018. The company is privately held, headquartered in Livonia, MI, operates with approximately 8 employees, and is led by CEO Kousay Said (former Dow executive), CTO/Founder Dr. Jeremy Minty (original platform developer), and CFO Ryan Chittaro.

Name

ecovia I bio

Legal name

Ecovia Renewables Inc.

Website

https://ecovia-bio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biobased Biopolymers

NAICS

Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-Based & Biodegradable Compounds (PLA/PHA/Starch Blends) (IMANABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodegradable Additives & Masterbatches (pro-oxidant-free, bio-based modifiers) (IMAEAOAD), Bio-based Surfactants, Detergent Ingredients & Oleochemicals (EUAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Biobased biopolymers
• Gamma polyglutamic acid
• Superabsorbent polymers
• Fermentation technology
• Biodegradable polymers

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Biopolymer Product Sales: Direct sales of γ-PGA biopolymer products (AzuraBase and AzuraGel product families) to manufacturers in cosmetics, personal care, agriculture, hygiene, and other industries. Products sold as off-white granules, typically in B2B bulk quantities to formulators and product manufacturers.
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of fermentation technology platform to partners. Ecovia obtained worldwide exclusive rights to University of Michigan technology with undisclosed running royalties and equity consideration.
3. Joint Development Agreements: Co-development partnerships where partners like Seppic provide funding and gain exclusive marketing rights to co-developed products for specific applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ecovia Bio manufactures biobased, biodegradable gamma polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) biopolymers through proprietary mixed-microbial fermentation technology. The company sells two product families — AzuraBase (linear γ-PGA for moisture retention in cosmetics, agriculture, food, and water treatment) and AzuraGel (crosslinked γ-PGA superabsorbent polymers for hygiene, packaging, and rheology applications) — to B2B enterprise customers in personal care, hygiene, agriculture, food, packaging, and water treatment industries.

Product overview

Ecovia Bio is a biotechnology company offering biopolymer products based on gamma polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) derived from fermentation processes. The product portfolio consists of two main families: AzuraBase (linear γ-PGA for moisture retention in cosmetics, agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals) and AzuraGel (crosslinked γ-PGA for superabsorbent and rheology modification applications). The company also offers industrial rheology modifiers as a separate product line. All products are 100% biobased, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic polyacrylates and polyacrylamides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AzuraBase: Linear form of PGA offered by Ecovia, providing top-of-the-line moisture capture and retention. 100% biobased, 100% biodegradable and water-soluble. Used in skin care formulations, agriculture as soil conditioner, food as texturizers/thickeners/stabilizers, pharmaceuticals/biomedical applications, and water treatment additives.
• AzuraGel

Products and services

• AzuraBase™ Linear form of gamma polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) biopolymer providing top-of-line moisture capture and retention. 100% biobased, biodegradable, and water-soluble. Used as a humectant, rheology modifier, and moisturizing polymer in cosmetics and personal care; as a soil conditioner in agriculture; as a texturizer, thickener, and stabilizer in food; and as a water treatment additive.
• AzuraGel™ Crosslinked gamma polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) polymers offering moisture control and absorption properties while retaining biodegradability. Used in superabsorbent applications (diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads), rheology modification in personal care, biomedical applications, food texturizers, and moisture-control packaging gels. Absorbs up to 300x its weight in water. USDA Certified 100% Biobased.
• Industrial Rheology Modifiers Plant-based rheology modifiers for thickening and viscosity modification in personal care products such as cosmetics, face and body washes. 100% biobased, non-toxic, sustainable alternative to synthetic chemical additives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92.7% biodegradation in 28 days per OECD 301B test vs 4.5% for polyacrylic acid SAP
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Greentown Labs and EvonikcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2025Selected as one of two startup manufacturers for Greentown Go Make 2025 decarbonization project. Ecovia collaborating with Evonik to decarbonize personal care industry. Selected from pool of 52 applicants from 21 countries. Project aims to address 0.5-1.5% of global GHG emissions from personal care products.
• Kousay SaidcoreOthers · 9 January 2025CEO who signed SEC Form D filing. Has over 30 years executive experience at Dow, specialty chemical companies, and PE/VC-based firms. MBA from Oakland University, completed Advanced Management Program at Wharton.
• University of MichigancoreTechnology or Integration · 15 April 2020Licensed fermentation technology developed in Dr. Xiaoxia 'Nina' Lin's lab. Spinout from university in 2014. University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships invested via Accelerate Blue Fund and MINTS program ($500k co-investment). Office of Technology Transfer supported throughout licensing process.
• Seppic Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2018Multi-year joint development agreement for co-development of high-performing, biobased and biodegradable polymers for topical applications in health and beauty markets. Seppic has exclusive marketing rights to products made using Ecovia's technology. Seppic also invested in Ecovia's $1.6M seed round and Caroline Drouart joined board as director. Marc Gillin replaced Drouart as board director.
• BioMADEminorOthersTrade organization partner listed on Ecovia partnerships page. BioMADE is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute focused on bioindustrial manufacturing.
• Mich BiominorOthersMichigan biosciences industry trade organization partner. Ecovia featured in BioMatters magazine publication covering Michigan's biosciences industry.
• James AgleyminorOthersListed as executive officer, director, and promoter in SEC Form D filing.
• Jeremy MintycoreOthersListed as executive officer, director, and promoter in SEC Form D filing. Founder & CTO. PhD from University of Michigan, original developer of fermentation platform technology.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Evonik: German specialty chemicals major with established personal care ingredients business and an active corporate venture arm that has already partnered with Ecovia through the Greentown Go Make 2025 decarbonization initiative. Represents both a partner and a potential competitor with scale advantages in personal care formulation.
• Croda International: UK-listed specialty ingredients company supplying biobased personal care, cosmetics, and crop care formulations globally. Overlaps with Ecovia's personal care and agriculture customer segments as an established incumbent with strong formulation relationships.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company and a leading producer of superabsorbent polymers (HySorb) for diapers, feminine hygiene, and incontinence, plus extensive personal care ingredients portfolio (Cetiol, Plantacare). Ecovia's primary incumbent competitor in both SAP and personal care ingredient markets.
• Nippon Shokubai: Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer and global leader in superabsorbent polymers for hygiene products. One of Ecovia's principal incumbent competitors in the SAP market that the company's AzuraGel products are explicitly designed to disrupt.
• Corbion: Global market leader in lactic acid fermentation and a major producer of biobased food ingredients, preservation systems, and personal care specialty chemicals. Comparable as a fermentation-based specialty biochemicals platform with overlapping customer base in food, personal care, and sustainable materials.

Emerging players

• Bloom Biorenewables: Swiss startup developing biobased polymer building blocks from biomass feedstocks as alternatives to petrochemical-derived polymers. Comparable as an early-stage fermentation/biopolymer company targeting personal care, packaging, and industrial applications.

Direct peers

• TotalEnergies Corbion: Joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion producing Luminy PLA bioplastics from renewable feedstock. Comparable as a producer of biobased, biodegradable polymer resins targeting packaging, hygiene, and consumer goods customers seeking petroleum-polymer alternatives.
• NatureWorks: World's largest producer of bio-based PLA polymers, supplying biodegradable resin to packaging, personal care, and hygiene markets under a similar B2B ingredient model to Ecovia. Directly comparable as a fermentation-derived biopolymer manufacturer targeting petroleum-polymer substitution.
• Danimer Scientific: Developer of PHA-based biopolymers (Nodax) used as biodegradable alternatives to petrochemical plastics in single-use packaging, foodservice, and personal care applications. Closest US-listed peer competing in the same biobased polymer substitution space as Ecovia.

Others

• Seppic (Air Liquide Healthcare Specialty Ingredients): Subsidiary of Air Liquide and Ecovia's exclusive marketing partner for topical health and beauty applications. Included as an ecosystem participant: it is both a strategic investor and distribution channel, making it the most commercially intertwined company in Ecovia's network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecovia-renewables
• Xx.com/ecoviabio

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ecovia I bio