What Novobiom does

Novobiom (NOVOBIOM SA) is a Belgian fungal biotechnology company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Liège, with a second operational office in Louvain-la-Neuve. The company applies proprietary mycology, AI-driven modeling, and patented fermentation processes to deliver nature-based solutions across three primary commercial use cases: precision bioremediation of contaminated soils, sediments, and industrial sludges (handling complex contaminant mixes including PAH up to 6 rings, BTEX, mineral oils C10-C40, chlorinated solvents, POPs, PFAS in development, pesticides, and herbicides); recycling of blended cotton-polyester textile waste (including items with zips and buttons) into purified polyester for downstream recyclers; and custom production of biobased biosurfactants and biomolecules for personal care, cosmetics, detergents, agriculture, and specialty industry. Customers include environmental services firms, industrial site owners, public-sector bodies, and brand owners, with L'Oréal explicitly named as an enterprise partner through the L'Oréal Green Science Incubation program and the L'AcceleratOR program run with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

The technology foundation rests on four integrated pillars: a proprietary mycobank of more than 500 qualified fungal strains described as the foundation of every product line; AI-powered digital twins of microorganisms and microbiomes that perform in-silico modeling to predict and optimize strain selection, fermentation conditions, and decontamination strategies; patented solid-state fermentation technology that avoids common foam issues and enables cost-effective, low-energy, circular production; and a patented textile recycling process that combines grinding, fermentation, washing/purification, and biomethanization. Bioremediation engagements pair tailored bio-augmentation mixes (selected microorganisms plus nutrients) with IoT-enabled site monitoring. The architecture is unified: a single Scalable Fungal Biotechnology Platform supports the four commercial solution modules (Precision Bioremediation, Recycling of Textile, Biosurfactants and Biomolecules, R&D Services) and an additional Waste Circularity for Mixed Materials application area extending the same approach to wood furniture and wallpaper.

Novobiom operates a sales-led, B2B direct model with quote-based pricing on every offering (no public pricing, no developer API). Revenue streams are project-based (bioremediation feasibility studies and on-site or ex-situ remediation support), spec-in/toll-manufacturing style (biosurfactant and biomolecule production using solid-state fermentation), and contract R&D services, with material non-dilutive contributions from EU and regional grants (EIC Accelerator, LIFE PFASTER, LIFE InBioSoil, Inno4CFIs, Wallonia Waste2Bio). The company is privately held with headcount in the 11-50 range (scientists, engineers, and operations staff), and is led by CEO Jean-Michel Scheuren (business engineer with environmental science background), CSO and co-founder Dr. Caroline Zaoui (former Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow), and COO Aurélie Espérandieu (ex-McKinsey). Capital history to date spans a €2 million seed round in June 2024 (with Circular Innovation Fund, Climate Insiders, Meusinvest/Noshaq, and Planetary Impact Ventures as named investors), an EIC Accelerator grant from the October 2024 cohort, and a $25 million Series B reported in July 2025.

Name

Novobiom

Legal name

NOVOBIOM SA

Website

https://novobiom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Novobiom is a Belgian fungal biotechnology company that uses a 500+ strain proprietary mycobank, AI-powered digital twins, and patented solid-state fermentation to deliver nature-based bioremediation, blended textile recycling, and biobased biosurfactants for enterprise and public-sector customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Bioremediation and Circular Materials Biotechnology

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biostimulants & Plant Health Biologicals (Microbial/Non-microbial) (AFABAEAK), Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL)

Keywords

• Fungal biotechnology
• Bioremediation services
• Textile recycling
• Biosurfactant production
• Circular waste management

Headquarters

HQ city

Louvain-la-neuve

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bioremediation services and feasibility studies: Sells digital-powered bioremediation feasibility studies, tailored bio-augmentation mixes (selected microorganisms + nutrients), and on-site / in-situ and ex-situ remediation project support to environmental services firms, industrial site owners and public bodies. Project-based revenue.
2. Biosurfactant and biomolecule production: Custom production of biosurfactants (and other biomolecules) for personal care, detergents, agriculture, textile/leather, and bioremediation customers, using proprietary solid-state fermentation. Spec-in / toll-manufacturing style engagements.
3. Tailored R&D services: Contract research leveraging proprietary fungal strain bank, digital twins and biomimicry process design for public and private organizations exploring nature-based solutions.
4. Public and EU grant funding: Non-dilutive and blended financing from EU/regional programs (EIC Accelerator, LIFE PFASTER, LIFE InBioSoil, Inno4CFIs, Waste2Bio / Wallonia) supporting platform development and scale-up.
5. Textile recycling / circular materials services: Patented fungal-based treatment of blended cotton-polyester textile waste, producing purified polyester for downstream recyclers and valorizing natural fibers / biogas. Revenue expected from processing fees and material offtake.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Novobiom operates a proprietary fungal biotechnology platform built on a 500+ strain mycobank, AI-powered digital twins, and patented solid-state fermentation technology. The company sells four solution modules on top of this platform: precision bioremediation for contaminated soils/sediments/sludges, biological recycling of blended cotton-polyester textile waste, custom biosurfactant and biomolecule production, and tailored R&D services, serving industrial site owners, environmental services firms, public-sector programs and consumer-goods companies.

Product overview

Novobiom offers a single, unified platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its Scalable Fungal Biotechnology Platform, which combines proprietary fungal biotechnology (more than 500 unique strains), AI-powered digital twins, patented solid-state fermentation technology, and industrial-application expertise. Built on this platform are four commercial solution modules—Precision Bioremediation (for soils, sediments and sludges), Recycling of Textile (turning blended cotton-polyester waste into purified polyester), Biosurfactants and Biomolecules (custom fermentation of surfactants for cosmetics, detergents, agriculture and more), and Research and Development Services (custom mycology and biomimicry projects)—together with a Waste Circularity for Mixed Materials application area that extends the platform to other natural-synthetic composite waste streams such as wood furniture and wallpaper. The platform is operationally supported by the Novobiom fungal strain bank ("mycobank"), IOT-enabled monitoring, and large European publicly-funded projects (EIC Accelerator WASTE2WEALTH, LIFE PFASTER, LIFE InBioSoil, Inno4CFIs, Waste2Bio).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Bioremediation Smart, de-risked and cost-effective bioremediation service for soils, sediments and industrial sludges that includes digital-twin-powered feasibility studies, integrated in-situ and ex-situ deployment, tailored bio-augmentation mixes (fungi + bacteria with nutrients), and IoT-enabled monitoring. Targets contaminants such as PAH up to 6 rings, BTEX, mineral oil up to C40, chlorinated solvents, POPs (PFAS in development), pesticides and herbicides. Sold to environmental services firms, industrial site owners and public-sector programs.
• Recycling of Textile Patented biological process that treats blended cotton-polyester textile waste (including items with zips, buttons and other non-textile components) using fungi, combining grinding, fermentation, washing/purification and biomethanization to recover purified polyester for downstream recycling and valorize natural fibers and biogas. Sold to textile brands, sorters, and downstream polyester recyclers seeking circular solutions.
• Biosurfactants and Biomolecules Custom-designed production of biosurfactants and other biomolecules using Novobiom's patented solid-state fermentation platform that valorizes textile waste as feedstock. Applications span personal/home care, cosmetics, detergents, agriculture (organic fertilizers), soil remediation, textile/leather treatment, dyes and specialty industry. Delivered as spec-in / toll-manufacturing-style engagements for consumer-goods and chemical companies.
• Research and Development Services Tailored R&D services for organizations exploring fungal biotechnology and biomimicry, leveraging Novobiom's proprietary qualified fungal strain bank, digital twins of microbiomes, and biomimicry process-design expertise to support both public and private sustainability projects. Sold to research institutes, universities and corporate R&D teams.
• Waste Circularity for Mixed Materials Application of the Novobiom fungal biotechnology platform to convert complex mixed waste streams combining natural and synthetic components (e.g., wood furniture, wallpaper) into high-value sustainable materials, enabling circularity and recycling of mixed materials beyond textiles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Environmental remediation market projected to grow from USD 136.3B (2024) to USD 313.9B (2035) at 8.8% CAGR (Prophecy Market Insights)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• L'OréalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Selected for the L'Oréal Green Science Incubation program (2023-ongoing). The collaboration focuses on demonstrating the viability of Novobiom's fungal biotechnology for sustainable cosmetics and personal care applications, including biosurfactants. L'Oréal explicitly cited Novobiom as an industry partner in independent coverage of its biotech initiatives.
• LIFE PFASTER consortium (11 partners, incl. OVAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovobiom is one of 11 partners in the European LIFE PFASTER project (co-funded by the EU) tackling PFAS contamination around the former paper factory in Willebroek. The collaboration focuses on Research, Innovative Remediation Techniques, and Nature-Based Solutions.
• LIFE InBioSoil consortium (4 beneficiaries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovobiom is a key partner in the flagship European LIFE InBioSoil project, a 48-month initiative demonstrating Advanced In Situ Bioremediation (AIB) for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) at pilot sites in Barcelona (Spain) and Brussels (Belgium). Novobiom contributes fungal-based bioremediation, digital twin technology, and advanced in situ delivery.
• Inno4CFIs consortium (14 partners, incl. Fondazione E. Amaldi and EISMEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded funding from the European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency (EISMEA) alongside Fondazione E. Amaldi (FEA) in a consortium with 13 other partners. Inno4CFIs promotes reforestation and Carbon Farming Initiatives, preserving biodiversity, water security and soil health.
• BMW Foundation — RESPOND accelerationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNovobiom is part of the BMW Foundation RESPOND acceleration program, gaining visibility and support from a credible sustainability/leadership network.
• Solar Impulse FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNovobiom is a recognized solution of the Solar Impulse Foundation, providing credibility and visibility for its fungal-biotechnology platform among sustainability-focused buyers and partners.
• University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) — via L'Oréal L'AcceleratORminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerL'Oréal's L'AcceleratOR program — in which Novobiom participates via the Green Science Incubation track — is run in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), providing selected startups with intensive support, sustainability expertise, and access to L'Oréal's global resources.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Carbios: French industrial biotech that uses enzymes to recycle PET plastics and is extending into textile polyester recycling. Directly comparable to Novobiom in using a biological platform (enzymes vs. fungi) to recover purified polyester from blended cotton-polyester textile waste.
• MycoTechnology: US-based fungal fermentation company that leverages proprietary fungal strains and solid-state fermentation to produce food ingredients. Comparable platform architecture (mycobank + solid-state fermentation) to Novobiom, but in food rather than waste/industrial applications.
• Ecovative Design: US-based mycelium company producing mushroom-based packaging, textiles (MyForest Foods / Forager), and leather alternatives using proprietary mycelium strains. Comparable in its use of mycelium biology as an industrial platform, but oriented to materials rather than remediation or recycling.
• MycoWorks: US-based biotech that uses proprietary mycelium strains (Reishi) to grow luxury leather alternatives. Comparable as a fungal-strain-driven materials platform with an enterprise commercial model, though focused on fashion/leather rather than environmental remediation.
• Spiber: Japanese fermentation-based biomaterials company that produces Brewed Protein fibers via microbial fermentation for apparel. Comparable as a fermentation-driven, sustainability-positioned materials platform with enterprise fashion and luxury partnerships.

Emerging players

• Bota Bio: Industrial biotechnology company that applies synthetic biology and fermentation to produce bio-based ingredients, including surfactants and specialty chemicals. Comparable in using fermentation to produce biobased molecules for personal care and industrial buyers.
• Protein Evolution: US-based startup that uses enzymes and AI to recycle textile and mixed plastic waste into reusable building blocks. Directly comparable to Novobiom's textile-recycling module in targeting blended cotton-polyester and similar complex streams with a biological platform.
• BIOHM: UK-based mycelium and bio-based materials company developing fungal-based building materials and bioproducts. Comparable in its use of fungal biology for circular material applications, though more focused on construction and packaging than on environmental remediation.

Broad incumbents

• LanzaTech: Established gas-fermentation biotech producing sustainable fuels and chemicals via proprietary carbon-fixing microbes. Comparable as a large-scale industrial biotech with IP-protected microbial platform, but much more advanced on commercial scale and capital.
• Ginkgo Bioworks: US-listed synthetic biology platform that designs custom microbes for industrial applications across agriculture, food, and industrial biotech. Comparable as a broad, code-driven biotech platform partner, but very different in scale, business model, and customer set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novobiom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 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 Novobiom