Bioteos announces a €1.2M fundraising round to purify the air
Bioteos, a company specializing in indoor air purification and founded by Romain Baheux and Romain Dhenin, has raised €1.2M. The round was supported by Kaloma Capital, the family office of entrepreneur Mathieu TARNUS, founder of the software publishing group Positive. Other business angels and institutional players, including BPI France and CIC, also participated in the round.
The goal of this fundraising round is clear for Bioteos: to accelerate its research and development, increase its production capabilities, and expand its market presence nationally.
A healthy mind in a healthy workplace
Air quality has become a major concern for many indoor spaces, whether in public places or private business environments. The COVID-19 crisis, coupled with a growing awareness among decision-makers of all business sizes regarding quality of life at work, has highlighted new needs: providing cleaner air while adopting the least environmentally impactful approach.
Bioteos révolutionne le traitement de l’air grâce aux micro-algues
Bioteos made promising strides in 2019 as an incubatee at REV3, Euratechnologies, and Cré’Innov. In 2022, in collaboration with the Métropole Européenne de Lille, they tested and validated the world’s first biological air purifier in a metro system using their algae-based technology. Today, the startup has established itself at La Ruche de l’Union in Tourcoing and aims to accelerate its development. The company is already equipping dozens of businesses with its eco-friendly purification units and is seeing its order book grow day by day.
Photo of the installation in the cafeteria of the Groupe TISSERINRomain & Romain : "Our mission is to provide solutions that effectively address health and environmental responsibility challenges, while improving air quality."
This fundraising round is a crucial step for us to accelerate our development and expand our impact. By investing further in research and development, we will be able to refine our technologies and enhance the performance of our air purifiers.
As founders, we view this fundraising round not only as a growth opportunity but also as an increased responsibility toward our users and the environment. It provides us with the resources needed to reach a larger number of businesses and public spaces, where air quality directly impacts the health and well-being of individuals."
Mathieu TARNUS, Kaloma Capital
"I have always been sensitive to the quality of the work environment for my team. For some time now, we have focused the majority of our investments at Kaloma Capital on impactful projects, whether in the fields of environment, health, or workplace quality of life. When I met the leaders of Bioteos, I was struck by this passionate team. They have developed a bio-responsible solution, with machines entirely manufactured in France using a technology and resource that is 100% natural and omnipresent on Earth: microalgae. These organisms are fundamental to life on Earth, contributing to the production of 50% of the oxygen we breathe. Why use anti-pollution filters that themselves have an environmental impact on our planet?
This industrial project aligns perfectly with our investment strategy at Kaloma Capital. We are thrilled to join an adventure that is just beginning and are committed to actively supporting and assisting Bioteos in its development.”
Thanks to this funding, Bioteos plans to:
- Thanks to this funding, Bioteos plans to accelerate its research and development by hiring several engineers.
- Increase its production capabilities.
- Strengthen its sales and partnership teams.
- Expand its market presence both nationally and internationally.
Bioteos aims to expand nationally by 2025 and internationally (in Southeast Asia and North America) by 2027, offering solutions tailored to local needs. The company is also working to strengthen partnerships with other businesses that prioritize air quality and employee well-being. The investors supporting Bioteos share this vision and believe in their ability to transform the market, with their confidence serving as a testament to Bioteos's potential for success.
About Bioteos
Bioteos is a startup founded in June 2021 by Romain Baheux, an engineer from Polytech Lille with a master's degree in entrepreneurship from IAE Lille, and Romain Dhenin, an engineer from Polytech Lille with an MBA in International Business from IAE Lille.
In response to the fact that 9 million people worldwide die each year due to air pollution, they developed a patented technology harnessing the potential of microalgae to improve indoor air quality. This technology was integrated into a 2.3-meter-high, 80-centimeter-wide column: OXYLON Urban, the world’s first biological air purifier installed in a metro system. Building on the feedback received, they have miniaturized this process to create OXYLON S, a biological air purifier designed specifically for commercial spaces.
Today, Bioteos has deployed around ten machines, including at Groupe Tisserin, CCI Hauts-de-France, Ayming, CPA, and Covivio.
About Kaloma Capital
Kaloma Capital is an active family investment firm based in Lille, founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Mathieu TARNUS, the founder and current CEO of Groupe Positive, a leading marketing software group in Europe (including Sarbacane, Rapidmail, User.com, NoCRM, Signitic, etc.).
Kaloma Capital invests in an average of 10 new projects per year in France and Europe, and holds nearly fifty investments across various sectors, including the SaaS software industry and impact-driven technologies and services: Weenav, Naak, Le Fourgon, Entocycle, and others.
Key participants in the operation: Soris Avocat and EY for legal matters, and CIC and BPI France for financial aspects.
