AmphiStar raises €6M to launch eco-friendly and cost-effective biosurfactants derived from waste

AmphiStar, one of Biotope’s standout portfolio companies, has just closed a €6 million seed round, led by European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) and joined by Qbic III and Flanders Future Tech Fund (FFTF). This capital will fuel commercialization, scale-up, and a groundbreaking step toward building a 1000-ton-per-year launch plant for eco-friendly biosurfactants.

Surfactants are everywhere—from shampoos to paints—but today, they depend heavily on fossil- and palm-based feedstocks and harsh chemistry. AmphiStar disrupts this norm by creating biocompatible glycolipids, like sophorolipids, sourced from locally discarded agri-food waste. Through gentle, beer-like fermentation, they’ve developed biosurfactants that drop directly into existing formulations, reduce carbon footprints, and support sustainable economies without compromising performance.

This round supports accelerated commercialization through external partnerships, product and regulatory development, and hiring 15 new team members by the end of 2025. It also marks a leadership milestone: AmphiStar has welcomed Pierre‑Franck Valentin, a veteran of surfactants and chemical industries, as its new CEO—signaling readiness for scale and market impact.

Why we’re proud at biotope

AmphiStar began as a deep-tech spin-off from Ghent University and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. Their science is rooted in over 15 years of research, a strong IP portfolio, and a team equipped for R&D, scale-up, and commercialization.

The founders joined our second basecamp cohort and convinced our investment committee. After working together closely over the last 18 months, we are proud to see AmphiStar successfully raising their seed round. With this round, they are positioned to make circular biosurfactants mainstream, demonstrating that high-performance and sustainability can go hand in hand.