CGREEN Raises €2M to Scale Bio-Based Carbon Fiber Technology for Low-Carbon Industrial Materials

CGREEN, a Nantes‑based cleantech startup developing low‑carbon, bio‑based carbon fiber to reduce the environmental footprint of traditional carbon fiber production, has completed its first major fundraising, securing nearly €2 million in capital to support pilot scale‑up and prepare for industrial deployment of its innovative technology. The funding represents a decisive early financing milestone for the company as it transitions from research to commercialisation and aims to strengthen industrial sovereignty in strategic material production.

Founded in January 2025 by Gaëlle Guyader and Céline Largeau, CGREEN is the culmination of a decade of research conducted as part of the FORCE project led by IRT Jules Verne. The company has developed a new generation of carbon fiber produced from cellulose, a renewable, local and abundant resource, which reduces CO₂ emissions by roughly a factor of three compared with conventional petro‑based carbon fiber, while maintaining equivalent mechanical performance. This breakthrough positions CGREEN at the intersection of sustainability and high‑performance materials used in aerospace, automotive, energy and defence sectors.

The nearly €2 million funding round brings together a mix of institutional, corporate and angel investment, reflecting broad support for CGREEN’s mission and technology. Leading the round is Socomore Ventures, the investment arm of Socomore Group, a French chemical and surface treatment specialist, which sees strategic value in fostering lower‑carbon materials that complement its business and sustainability ambitions.

Also participating in the round is Pays de la Loire Participation, a regional investment vehicle focused on supporting innovative companies in the Pays de la Loire region, where CGREEN is headquartered. This participation highlights the regional economic development strategy of backing local deeptech ventures that can create high‑value industrial activity and jobs.

The ABAB business angel association, a network of private investors that supports early‑stage startups in the region, also contributed to the financing, bringing both capital and expertise to help the startup navigate its initial commercialisation phase.

In addition to these backers, IRT Jules Verne — the research institute that incubated CGREEN’s underlying technology — participated in the round, affirming its commitment to transferring research innovations into competitive industrial enterprises. Its involvement underscores the collaborative ecosystem supporting CGREEN’s development from laboratory research to pilot deployment.

Another notable investor is Alexandre Hamlyn, an experienced entrepreneur in advanced materials and composites, who serves as President of Artemis Composites and was co‑founder of Coriolis Composites. Hamlyn’s participation brings deep industry knowledge and strategic guidance to the startup as it navigates early commercialisation and scale‑up challenges.

CGREEN’s leadership said the capital will be used to deploy a pilot carbonization line in Carquefou, in partnership with Icam, the long‑standing academic and industrial partner in the FORCE project. Establishing a pilot line will allow the company to validate its production process at scale, optimise performance and quality, and lay the groundwork for full‑scale industrial operations that can meet growing demand from industrial users seeking low‑carbon alternatives.

The funding also supports CGREEN’s efforts to prepare for industrialisation of its bio‑based carbon fiber technology, a step that requires both technical refinement and the establishment of industrial infrastructure capable of producing material at commercial volumes. By doing so, CGREEN aims to reduce European dependence on imported carbon fiber and enhance local capabilities in a material that is increasingly critical for high‑performance lightweighting and decarbonisation strategies across major manufacturing sectors.

CGREEN’s research and innovation efforts extend beyond its core founders and investors. The startup has been selected for support by Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, an industrial startup programme that provides tools and expertise to help industry innovators accelerate development and integrate digital transformation into their product strategies.

Thanks to its inaugural funding round, CGREEN is now positioned to solidify its technology’s readiness for industrial adoption and to engage with potential customers and partners across sectors where sustainable materials are both a performance requirement and an environmental imperative. By coupling deep research with strategic investment, the company aims to play a key role in advancing a European bio‑based carbon fiber industry — one that offers lower carbon emissions, local supply chains and competitive performance for critical applications.

As the startup moves into pilot production and industrial preparation, CGREEN’s funding milestone stands as a significant example of how investment can bridge the gap between academic innovation and commercial impact in the cleantech and advanced materials ecosystem.