On International Women's Day on March 8, LIOF, Joanna Invests, and Earthstar announce their joint investment in Smobya, a Hungarian biotech startup that develops nanocellulose materials as a sustainable alternative to plastic and animal leather. The team is relocating from Budapest to Brightlands Greenport Campus in Venlo. The timing is both symbolic and strategic: three female investors are supporting female founder Lídia Kuti, who wants to transform one of the most polluting sectors in the world.

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A platform for the materials of tomorrow

Smobya, founded by Lídia Kuti and Almos Kuti, developed NanoTwine™: a technology for producing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) on an industrial scale. While fermentation has been used for centuries in food and beverages, Smobya sees the same biological power as the key to a new generation of strong, sustainable materials. The first applications focus on alternatives to leather in the fashion and textile industries, among others.

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Breakthrough thanks to a consortium

The next step for Smobya is the construction of a demo plant. This is necessary to produce larger volumes and definitively convince international customers. It was precisely this step that initially proved difficult to finance: investors were enthusiastic about the technology and the team, but the combination of an early pilot phase and an international relocation caused reluctance.

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Together with Joanna Invests and Earthstar, LIOF set up an investment structure to enable the next step and accelerate Smobya's growth.

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