Elea & Lili

What Elea & Lili does

Elea & Lili Oy is a Helsinki, Finland-based deep-tech biomaterials startup spun out of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in 2026. The company is commercializing CSA™ (Cellulose Super Absorbent), a cellulose-based superabsorbent material platform developed in collaboration with VTT and designed to replace fossil-derived superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in hygiene and agricultural applications. The technology is positioned as a scalable material platform adaptable across baby diapers, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, agriculture, and technical absorbents, with stated claims of microplastic-free, biodegradable chemistry and drop-in compatibility with existing global manufacturing infrastructure.

Elea & Lili is pre-commercial and pre-revenue, with a 1–10 person team and €2.5 million in seed funding closed in March 2026 (led by Lifeline Ventures) earmarked for pilot production, regulatory validation, industrial partnerships, and initial market launches in Europe and the United States. Its go-to-market is B2B partnership-led: a structured application-fit → material evaluation → pilot planning → commercial pathway targeting absorbent-product manufacturers, consumer brands, and research/supply partners, with confidential partnership discussions handled via a dedicated contact channel. In parallel, a public website waitlist collects consumer and stakeholder interest (parents, manufacturers, brands, investors, researchers, media) ahead of a CSA™-powered diaper launch, functioning as a demand-sensing and category-building tool.

The company's customer segments are hygiene product manufacturers and brands (baby diapers, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence), agricultural producers and input suppliers (soil moisture management, drought resilience), and technical/industrial absorbent system manufacturers. No paying customers, ARR, or commercial pricing have been disclosed; revenue mechanics are not yet defined beyond the planned sale of CSA™ material into manufacturer and brand supply chains. The business is led by co-founders Tatu Miettinen (CEO, commercial strategy and partnerships) and Miika Nikinmaa (CTO, technology and R&D).

Name

Elea & Lili

Legal name

Elea & Lili Oy

Website

https://elealili.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Elea & Lili is a Helsinki-based deep-tech biomaterials startup that commercializes CSA™, a cellulose-based superabsorbent material platform developed with VTT, targeting replacement of fossil-based SAP in hygiene, agriculture, and technical absorbent applications through B2B partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomaterials / Superabsorbent Materials

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Cellulose-Based Biodegradable Materials (cellulose films, fibers, derivatives) (IMAEAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Compostable & Bio-Based Flexible Packaging (PLA, PHA, Cellulose Films) (IMALABAO)

Keywords

• Cellulose superabsorbent materials
• Biodegradable absorbent polymers
• Microplastic-free hygiene materials
• Bio-based SAP alternative
• Cellulose-based water-retention materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pre-revenue / commercialization stage: Company is currently pre-commercial — developing, validating, and pilot-producing CSA™ material rather than selling at scale. Revenue model is not yet publicly defined; planned commercial pathway involves supplying CSA™ material to manufacturers and brands for use in diapers, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, agriculture, and technical absorbent applications, with funding supporting pilot production, regulatory validation, and initial market launches in Europe and the U.S.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Elea & Lili commercializes CSA™ (Cellulose Super Absorbent), a cellulose-based superabsorbent material platform developed in collaboration with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, designed to replace fossil-based superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in baby diapers, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, agriculture, and technical absorbent applications. The platform is engineered to be microplastic-free, biodegradable, and to integrate with existing global manufacturing infrastructure. The company is pre-commercial, supplying material for pilot programs and partner evaluation in Europe and the United States.

Product overview

Elea & Lili offers a single core material platform, CSA™ (Cellulose Super Absorbent), accompanied by a set of named application modules that adapt the same cellulose-based absorbent chemistry to different end markets. The core CSA™ platform — developed in collaboration with VTT — is the unifying product, while CSA™ for Baby Diapers, CSA™ for Feminine Hygiene, CSA™ for Adult Incontinence, CSA™ for Agriculture, and CSA™ for Technical Absorbents represent application-specific configurations of that platform for hygiene, agriculture, and technical absorbent categories. Together they form a scalable cellulose-based material platform intended to replace fossil-based superabsorbent polymers (SAP) across industrial absorbent markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSA™: Cellulose Super Absorbent — a cellulose-based superabsorbent material platform being developed by Elea & Lili to replace fossil-based superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in hygiene, agriculture and technical absorbent applications.

Products and services

• CSA™ (Cellulose Super Absorbent) Elea & Lili's core cellulose-based superabsorbent material platform developed in collaboration with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, engineered as a microplastic-free, biodegradable alternative to fossil-based SAP and designed for seamless integration into existing hygiene, agriculture, and technical absorbent manufacturing infrastructure.
• CSA™ for Baby Diapers Application of the CSA™ platform targeting high-volume disposable diaper absorbent cores, where performance, skin-adjacent safety, supply reliability, and credible microplastic reduction are required. A public waitlist is open for the first diaper launch.
• CSA™ for Feminine Hygiene Application of the CSA™ platform for feminine hygiene products, supporting brands seeking differentiated, lower-fossil material architectures with material transparency and trust, without stepping away from performance expectations.
• CSA™ for Adult Incontinence Application of the CSA™ platform for adult incontinence products, addressing demanding absorption and comfort requirements for ageing populations, care systems, and brands under pressure to improve sustainability.
• CSA™ for Agriculture Application of the CSA™ platform for cellulose-based water-retention materials used in soil moisture management, drought resilience, and more efficient use of water inputs in agriculture.
• CSA™ for Technical Absorbents Application of the CSA™ platform for industrial and technical absorbent systems beyond hygiene and agriculture, where material efficiency, performance, and reduced dependence on persistent fossil-based polymers are required.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVTT is the originating research partner — Elea & Lili was spun out of VTT, and CSA™ was developed in collaboration with VTT, described on the company's website as "one of Europe's leading research institutions." VTT continues to be referenced as the institutional foundation of the technology and the origin of the spinout. Press releases are also issued via VTT Info / PR Newswire.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sappi: Global pulp and paper company with deep expertise in cellulose chemistry and dissolving pulp used in specialty materials. Comparable as a broader cellulose-materials incumbent with the industrial scale and chemistry base to enter cellulose-based absorbents.
• LG Chem: South Korean chemical company producing superabsorbent polymers used in hygiene products globally. Comparable as a large-scale SAP incumbent competing in the same replacement market.
• Borregaard: Norwegian biorefinery company producing specialty cellulose-based materials (lignin, vanillin, microsilica) for industrial applications. Comparable as a broader cellulose-materials incumbent that could enter bio-based absorbents as an adjacent category.
• Evonik: Chemical company producing superabsorbent polymers for the hygiene industry under brands like Favor. Comparable as a global SAP incumbent pursuing more sustainable absorbent chemistries.
• Sumitomo Seika Chemicals: Major Japanese producer of superabsorbent polymers for diapers and feminine hygiene, with investments in bio-based alternatives. Comparable as a direct incumbent in fossil-based SAP that Elea & Lili seeks to displace.
• Nippon Shokubai: Global leader in superabsorbent polymers (SAP), primarily serving hygiene applications including diapers. Directly comparable as the dominant incumbent in the very material category CSA™ aims to replace.
• Sanyo Chemical (SDP Global): Producer of superabsorbent polymers through SDP Global, serving the global diaper and hygiene market. Comparable as a specialized incumbent in the SAP category that CSA™ targets for replacement.
• BASF: Major chemical producer with a superabsorbent polymers business (HySorb) for hygiene applications, plus active bio-based polymer programs. Comparable as a large incumbent with both the existing SAP franchise and R&D capacity to compete in cellulose-based absorbents.

Emerging players

• Bloom Biorenewables: Swiss deep-tech company developing cellulose-based chemistry platforms with VTT-adjacent research credentials. Comparable as an emerging bio-based materials platform leveraging advanced cellulose chemistry — the same foundational technology as CSA™.
• Ecovia Renewables: US-based early-stage company developing bio-based polyacrylates and sustainable superabsorbent polymers for hygiene applications. Comparable as a direct emerging competitor in the bio-based SAP replacement space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elealili

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 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 Elea & Lili