Kenaf Ventures

What Kenaf Ventures does

Kenaf Ventures is an Israeli CleanTech and ClimateTech company that develops and produces sustainable raw materials derived from the Kenaf plant, targeting industrial decarbonization in the plastics and construction sectors. Its core technology consists of proprietary fiber processing and formulation methods that convert Kenaf fibers into bio-based plastics blended with conventional polymers, insulation products, and construction materials. The product portfolio comprises four offerings: Bio-Based Plastics (20-30% Kenaf fibers blended with Polypropylene and HDPE, sold via Kafrit Group), Kenaf Wool (85% Kenaf-fiber insulation in rolls and panels, marketed as a substitute for mineral wool), Bio-Block and Bio-Plaster (80% Kenaf-fiber construction materials), and Kenaf Foam (a biodegradable Expanded Polystyrene alternative still in development).

The company operates a hardware sales revenue model, selling biomaterials to manufacturers as drop-in alternatives to polluting feedstocks. Its go-to-market relies on strategic partnerships rather than direct sales; Kafrit Group is the principal channel partner for bio-based plastics, while Kenaf Wool, Bio-Block, and Bio-Plaster are positioned as market-ready for industrial customers. The end customer segment is described as horizontal, addressing manufacturers across plastics, insulation, and construction that face environmental compliance pressure, carbon reduction targets, and dependence on fossil-fuel-based inputs. The company claims cost-competitive pricing, suitability for existing manufacturing equipment, and a carbon-negative footprint anchored in the Kenaf plant's rapid growth cycle and high biomass yield per hectare.

Kenaf Ventures is a privately held, for-profit entity headquartered in Israel, founded in 2011, with 1-10 employees. The leadership team consists of three co-founders (CEO Ido Hershkovits, CTO Avishay Morag, and Head of Innovation Gideon Soesan) alongside a CFO, Chairman, Processing Plant Manager, and five expert advisors covering materials science, construction materials, plastic materials, intellectual property, and climate policy and carbon markets. The company discloses no funding rounds, no patents, no revenue figures, and no named end-customer logos in the available source data.

Name

Kenaf Ventures

Legal name

Kenaf Ventures

Website

https://kenafventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kenaf Ventures is an Israeli CleanTech company that develops and produces bio-based plastics, insulation, and construction materials from Kenaf plant fibers for plastics and construction manufacturers seeking sustainable alternatives to fossil-fuel-based inputs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-based industrial materials

NAICS

Wood Product Manufacturing (321), Engineered Wood Member Manufacturing (321215), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430), Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Wood-based Biocomposites & Natural Fiber Composites (WPC, bio-reinforced plastics) (IMAMALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends) (IMANAAAG), Bio-based Materials & Fibers (e.g., cellulose derivatives, lignin-based materials, nanocellulose) (EUAAAIAD), Bio-based Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, bio-PE, bio-PET, cellulose acetate) (IMAMALAC)

Keywords

• Bio-based materials
• Bio-based plastics
• Natural fiber insulation
• Sustainable construction materials
• Industrial decarbonization

Headquarters

HQ city

Tel Aviv

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bio-Based Materials Sales: Sale of biomaterials including bio-based plastics, Kenaf Wool insulation, Bio-Block, Bio-Plaster, and Kenaf Foam to manufacturers in plastics and construction industries. Products are sold as sustainable alternatives to traditional polluting materials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Kenaf Ventures develops and produces sustainable bio-based raw materials derived from the Kenaf plant, supplying manufacturers in the plastics and construction industries with carbon-negative alternatives to fossil-fuel-based feedstock. Its product portfolio includes Bio-Based Plastics (20-30% Kenaf blended with PP/HDPE, via Kafrit Group), Kenaf Wool insulation (85% Kenaf fibers), Bio-Block and Bio-Plaster building materials (80% Kenaf fibers), and Kenaf Foam (biodegradable polystyrene substitute, in development).

Product overview

Kenaf Ventures is a Cleantech/ClimateTech company developing sustainable biomaterials from the Kenaf plant. The product portfolio consists of four offerings: Bio-Based Plastics (20-30% Kenaf blended with PP and HDPE, developed with Kafrit Group), Kenaf Wool (85% Kenaf fiber insulation in rolls and panels), Bio-Block and Bio-Plaster (80% Kenaf fiber construction materials), and Kenaf Foam (biodegradable polystyrene alternative for insulation, in development). All products are designed as sustainable alternatives to traditional polluting materials like plastics, mineral wool, and polystyrene.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kenaf Wool: High-quality, cost-effective and biodegradable substitute for mineral wool insulation. Made with 85% Kenaf fibers and 15% other natural materials, offers excellent thermal insulation in rolls and panels with adjustable properties. Market-ready.
• Bio-Block
• Bio-Plaster
• Kenaf Foam
• Bio-Based Plastics

Products and services

• Bio-Based Plastics Innovative plastics containing 20-30% Kenaf fibers blended with Polypropylene (PP) and High-density Polyethylene (HDPE). Produced in partnership with Kafrit Group for plastics manufacturers seeking renewable-content alternatives to fossil-fuel-based plastic feedstock without significant cost penalty.
• Kenaf Wool High-quality, cost-effective, and biodegradable substitute for mineral wool insulation. Composed of 85% Kenaf fibers and 15% other natural materials, supplied in rolls and panels with adjustable properties for thermal insulation applications.
• Bio-Block and Bio-Plaster Strong, lightweight, and naturally insulating construction building materials each composed of 80% Kenaf fibers, marketed as versatile sustainable alternatives to traditional building blocks and plasters for construction projects.
• Kenaf Foam Biodegradable alternative to Expanded Polystyrene designed for thermal insulation boards and panels. Composed of high percentages of Kenaf fibers and natural additives. The source notes it is currently in development and not yet market-ready.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bio-based plastics contain 20-30% Kenaf, reducing reliance on fossil fuels
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kafrit GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Kafrit Group for the development and commercialization of innovative bio-based plastics. Products combine 20-30% Kenaf fibers with conventional plastics such as Polypropylene (PP) and High-density polyethylene (HDPE). This partnership enables reduced reliance on fossil fuels while maintaining competitive pricing for manufacturers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Sunstrand: U.S.-based processor of natural fibers (hemp, flax, kenaf) for composites and building materials. Closely comparable in natural fiber processing with overlap on kenaf as a feedstock option.
• Lingrove: Producer of natural fiber-reinforced bio-composites for architectural surfaces and interiors. Comparable as an emerging player in plant-based composites for construction applications.

Direct peers

• Kafrit Group: Israeli masterbatch and plastics additives company — Kenaf Ventures' commercialization partner for Bio-Based Plastics. Comparable as a plastics additives/formulation peer and the primary channel partner for bio-plastic output.
• Procotex: Belgian processor of natural fibers (flax, hemp, kenaf) for technical textiles and composites. Comparable in natural-fiber processing and supply to industrial composite and insulation markets.
• HempFlax: European hemp fiber processor producing natural fiber mats, insulation, and composites for construction and automotive. Directly comparable natural-fiber platform competing for the same bio-based insulation and composite applications.
• Bast Fibre Technologies: Producer of natural bast fibers (hemp, flax, jute) for nonwoven, automotive, and construction composites. Closest direct peer in natural-fiber-reinforced industrial materials with overlapping target applications.
• GreenCore Composites: Canadian manufacturer of natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (NFRP) for automotive and construction. Direct comparable in fiber-plastic composite formulations using similar drop-in conversion approach.

Broad incumbents

• Stora Enso: Global provider of renewable wood-based biomaterials, packaging, and bio-composites for construction. Directly comparable in cellulose-based materials, biocomposites, and building material decarbonization.
• Trex Company: Largest U.S. manufacturer of wood-plastic composite decking and outdoor products. Comparable as a major incumbent in bio-fiber-reinforced plastic building materials, though serving outdoor/construction end-markets at scale.
• UPM-Kymmene: Finnish forest-bio giant producing bio-based chemicals, biocomposites, and renewable materials for construction and packaging. Comparable as a large established player in bio-based materials with overlapping sustainability positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Kenaf Ventures