Press Releases
Investment Round of €500,000 for Relicta: Scientifica Venture Capital as Lead Investor
Relicta, an innovative start-up that has developed hydro-soluble, biodegradable, and compostable plastic packaging from waste generated by the fishing industry, has successfully concluded an investment round of €500,000. The funding is provided by Scientifica Venture Capital, Terra Next (a bioeconomy sector accelerator within the National CDP Network), and Vertis SGR through the Venture 3 Technology Transfer fund.
Relicta was one of the four winners of Scientifica Venture Capital’s Call4Ideas, awarded during the prestigious Super Sapiens Day held in Rome in July, which recognizes scientific projects with significant technological advancements.
The start-up aims to address the issue of ocean pollution caused by plastic waste. Each year, over eight million tons of plastic waste, primarily packaging waste, are dumped into the oceans. The innovative and competitive edge of Relicta’s water-soluble packaging lies in its self-disposal system, setting it apart from most bioplastics on the market that require specific treatment as organic waste.
In this investment round, Scientifica Venture Capital leads with a contribution of €300,000. Additionally, to accelerate product development and industrialization planned for 2024, Relicta will have access to the facilities of Scientifica Lab in L’Aquila.
The remaining €200,000 comes from Terra Next, an accelerator supporting start-ups and SMEs in the bioeconomy sector, and Vertis SGR S.p.A. through the Vertis Venture 3 Technology Transfer fund, which was Relicta’s initial investor.
Terra Next, initiated by CDP Venture Capital, is part of the National CDP Accelerators Network, a nationwide initiative supporting the growth of start-ups in high-potential markets. The accelerator involves Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Centre as a co-creator and promoter, with program management handled by Cariplo Factory.
The investment will primarily focus on technological validation and product refinement.
Riccardo D’Alessandri, Managing Partner of Scientifica Venture Capital, expressed, “Relicta has the potential to revolutionize the world of bioplastics. We are delighted to support such a promising and innovative start-up, and we believe its impact will bring overwhelmingly positive environmental consequences. Alongside scientific validation, we are committed to working with Relicta to build a profitable, scalable, and sustainable business model, in line with the values that define the investments made by Scientifica Venture Capital.”
Misal G. Memeo, Senior Investment Manager at Vertis SGR, stated, “We are thrilled to continue supporting Relicta following our initial investment through our Proof of Concept program in 2020, developed in collaboration with Venture Factory. This funding round demonstrates both the significant opportunities arising from global sustainability challenges and the ability of the Italian research community to generate innovation with significant market implications.”
Stefano Molino, Head of Accelerator Fund at CDP Venture Capital SGR, commented, “Continuing to support a start-up’s growth from inception and witnessing its success is one of the objectives of the National CDP Accelerators Network, which we established over a year and a half ago and now comprises 16 accelerators throughout the country, each focused on a market with great development potential. The investment in Relicta represents an important milestone in the development model of Terra Next, an accelerator for bioeconomy start-ups aiming to reconnect the environment, production processes, and society.”
