Cellarim Labs, a biotechnology startup specializing in cell-free biomanufacturing for beauty and personal care ingredients, has raised Rs 6 crore in a seed funding round. The round was co-led by 3i Partners and Venture Catalysts, with participation from Momentum Capital, Jashan Bhumkar, Gayathri Kuppendra Reddy, and other investors.
Advancing Pilot-Scale Production
The startup intends to use the money to build a pilot-scale biomanufacturing facility, speed up the commercial production of its flagship product NeuHyal™ and broaden its B2B ingredient supply to beauty and cosmetic brands. These measures are designed to ensure that there will be a stable supply of top-grade, eco-friendly cosmetic ingredients in the market.
Pioneering Cell-Free Biomanufacturing
Founded in 2023 by Hitesh Rafalia and Nisa Mehreen, Cellarim Labs focuses on alternative production methods for cosmetic ingredients. The company addresses key challenges in the industry, including heavy reliance on imported bioactives, supply inconsistencies, variable purity, and high costs for brands.
The startup’s proprietary cell-free, enzyme-based platform replaces conventional fermentation and chemical synthesis methods. By integrating enzyme engineering with advanced bioprocessing techniques, Cellarim Labs can convert renewable bio-waste into cosmetic ingredients with consistent quality and specifications.
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AI-Driven Biofoundry for Faster Innovation
Besides its manufacturing capacity, Cellarim Labs is building an AI-powered biofoundry that will be a platform for partner brands to send the target molecules for design, testing, and production. In this way, the timelines for new bioactive ingredients development will be shortened drastically. The company plans that the use of this technology will result in far greater efficiencies and creative breakthroughs throughout the beauty ingredients market.
Launch of NeuHyal™ Portfolio
Cellarim Labs has brought to market NeuHyal™, a series of Hyaluronic Acid products with molecular weights varying from 10 kDa to 5000 kDa, within the first year of its operations only. The product line is intended to be used in skincare, beauty, and other cosmetic-related industries, thus offering an eco-friendly and sustainable option for the production of Hyaluronic Acid.
The company is initially focusing on the global Hyaluronic Acid market, which is valued at approximately $9 billion and includes applications in skincare products, dermal fillers, and medical-grade formulations.
Strategic Focus on Sustainable Ingredients
Cellarim Labs’ approach is in line with a major industry trend that is moving towards the use of sustainable and locally produced cosmetic ingredients. The company, through the use of cell-free biomanufacturing, intends to provide brands with stable, very pure bioactives without the need to rely on global supply chains that are subject to fluctuations.
An initial seed financing round that was successful is indicative of the trust that venture capitalists put in the company’s innovative technology and its promise to change the way ingredients for the beauty and personal care sector are produced. Cellarim Labs will be able to expand its activities, provide trendy ingredients to brands, and consolidate its position in the competitive international market with this money.
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