Sparxell, a bioinspired colour technology startup, has raised £3.7 million in Pre-Series A funding led by SWEN Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean 2 fund, with participation from Alpha Star Capital and Cambridge Enterprise. Sparxell is working to replace toxic chemicals in the global colourants market using plant-based structural colour. The investment will support Sparxell’s transition from pilot programmes to commercial-scale manufacturing, with tonne-scale production facilities expected to be operational by 2026.
Sparxell’s technology uses cellulose from wood pulp, extracting and assembling cellulose crystals into structures that reflect specific wavelengths of light to create plant-based structural colour. The approach removes the need for petroleum-based chemicals, synthetic dyes, toxic heavy metals and minerals by using physical structures rather than chemical pigments. The company applies this technology across pigment powders, glitters, inks, sequins and films for use in textiles, cosmetics, food and beverage, packaging, paint and coatings, and automotive applications.
The investment follows a year in which Sparxell secured a £1.6 million grant from the European Innovation Council and entered partnerships across fashion, beauty, automotive and packaging. Sparxell also announced a collaboration with British luxury brand Patrick McDowell and launched commercially available plant-based textile inks with Positive Materials.
The funding will be used to scale manufacturing to tonne-scale production, accelerate product certification for textiles, cosmetics and automotive applications, and hire new staff including in business development. Sparxell has completed several fully funded pilot projects with global brands and manufacturers and plans to announce commercial partnerships in 2026.
