A&B Smart Materials, an Oxford-based materials science startup working on bio-based absorbent materials for hygiene products, has closed a €1.7 million (£1.5 million) pre-seed round that it described as “heavily oversubscribed”.
The company’s stated aim is to develop alternatives to the synthetic superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) widely used in disposable diapers and sanitary products .
Who backed the round?
The round was led by a mix of existing and new investors. Sake Bosch returned as an existing backer, while Caesar and Living Hope VC joined as new strategic investors . Other participants included Archipelago Ventures, Triple Impact Ventures, Cranfield University Seed Fund, Oxford Seed Fund, and business angels from Cambridge Capital Group and Oxford Innovation Finance.
A&B co-founder and CEO Amaury van Trappen said the financing will help the team accelerate progress and strengthen hiring, calling it “an important milestone” in the company’s effort to transform an industry he says “urgently needs change” .
The problem A&B Smart Materials says it is targeting?
A&B argues that the synthetic SAPs used at scale today are non-biodegradable and petroleum-based, and that they accumulate in the environment as microplastics, contaminating soils and waterways . The company’s long-term goal is to replace synthetic SAP formulations in what it describes as a market projected to reach €14.4 billion ($17 billion) by 2035 .
What the startup is building?
SAPs are the “critical materials” used in diapers and sanitary products to absorb liquid, and they are also used in agriculture to improve soil water retention during dry periods . A&B says its approach is to create plant-based SAPs designed to break down naturally, “leaving no microplastics behind”.
According to the company, it combines polymer science with “abundant natural feedstocks,” and uses modified biopolymers sourced from low-cost natural materials including cellulose and starch . A&B also says the technology is being developed to remain compatible with existing industrial processes , and that it is preparing its first patent filings.
Co-founder and CTO Dr Benjamin White framed the mission as a full replacement of synthetic absorbents with biodegradable alternatives “without compromising on product performance or affordability” .
Where the money goes and how A&B plans to scale?
A&B says the new capital will primarily accelerate R&D to optimize its formulations and reach what it calls a “trifecta” of high performance, competitive pricing, and industrial-scale validation across hygiene and agriculture.
On commercialization, van Trappen said the preferred first route is licensing and joint development agreements with large industrial players, while keeping other pathways open, such as contract manufacturing under A&B’s IP, or self production . He added that, under the current operating plan, the round provides roughly two years of runway.
He also signaled that the next raise may arrive earlier than many expect, describing it as a multi-million-pound round sized for pilot-scale production and advanced industrial validation.
Footprint and recent recognition
The company operates from the University of Oxford’s Begbroke Science Park and has picked up several recognitions in 2025, including winning the TBAT Innovation Challenge 2025, being named 2nd runner-up for the 2025 BBIA Demeter Award (Startup Category) at the Royal Society of Chemistry (November 2025), and receiving an equity-free grant of nearly €104k (£91,250) from the Henry Royce Institute of Advanced Materials (with partners including the University of Warwick Polymer Group and Reactwise).
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