Blab Tech
SurfAce Cleantech Secures CHF 250,000 Pre-Seed to Advance Compostable Packaging Coating
A Swiss deep‑tech venture has moved a step closer to turning compostable packaging from a laboratory curiosity into a commercial reality. On September 10, 2026, SurfAce Cleantech—based in EPFL Innovation Park—closed a CHF 250,000 (about $310,000) pre‑seed round that will fund the next phase of its patented film‑coating technology.
The company’s coating is designed to strengthen compostable flexible films, allowing manufacturers to produce thinner, stronger, and more cost‑competitive packaging without sacrificing compostability. Developed in partnership with EPFL researchers, the technology promises to help consumer‑goods and food‑service producers meet growing demand for high‑performance, environmentally friendly packaging.
The financing came from a mix of Swiss business angels, including an investor from the SICTIC network, and the Stiftung HSG START Accelerator. The round is modest by deep‑tech standards, but it signals that local angel networks and accelerator programmes are willing to back early‑stage, technology‑heavy ventures.
With the new capital, SurfAce will expand its team from three to five employees and shift focus from laboratory validation to industrial optimisation. Key priorities include refining pattern and zone printing processes, running industrial‑scale trials, and pursuing formal compostability certification. The company targets market readiness in the first quarter of 2027.
"The next months are about execution—industrial optimisation, certification and demonstrating that our technology can deliver both performance and economic value at scale," said co‑founder and CEO Frederic Mauch. His remarks underline the company’s transition from pilot results to a certified, industrialised product.
The funding level reflects a capital‑efficient path from research to market. While the pre‑seed ticket sits at the lower end of the spectrum for deep‑tech startups, it provides the resources needed for the next critical milestones.
Compostable packaging is gaining traction under EU regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and forthcoming circular‑economy initiatives. Manufacturers that can reduce material usage and cost while meeting compostability standards may gain a competitive edge. SurfAce’s coating could enable precisely that, potentially accelerating the adoption of high‑performance compostable packaging.
The company remains in the early commercialisation phase. No additional funding has been announced beyond the CHF 250,000, and SurfAce’s current focus is on scaling production, validating performance at larger volumes, and securing the certifications required for market entry.
In short, SurfAce Cleantech has secured a modest pre‑seed investment that will move its compostable film coating from the lab to industrial trials, with a target for market readiness in early 2027. The next steps involve expanding the team, refining printing processes, and obtaining compostability certification—positioning the company to meet a growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
The company’s coating is designed to strengthen compostable flexible films, allowing manufacturers to produce thinner, stronger, and more cost‑competitive packaging without sacrificing compostability. Developed in partnership with EPFL researchers, the technology promises to help consumer‑goods and food‑service producers meet growing demand for high‑performance, environmentally friendly packaging.
The financing came from a mix of Swiss business angels, including an investor from the SICTIC network, and the Stiftung HSG START Accelerator. The round is modest by deep‑tech standards, but it signals that local angel networks and accelerator programmes are willing to back early‑stage, technology‑heavy ventures.
With the new capital, SurfAce will expand its team from three to five employees and shift focus from laboratory validation to industrial optimisation. Key priorities include refining pattern and zone printing processes, running industrial‑scale trials, and pursuing formal compostability certification. The company targets market readiness in the first quarter of 2027.
"The next months are about execution—industrial optimisation, certification and demonstrating that our technology can deliver both performance and economic value at scale," said co‑founder and CEO Frederic Mauch. His remarks underline the company’s transition from pilot results to a certified, industrialised product.
The funding level reflects a capital‑efficient path from research to market. While the pre‑seed ticket sits at the lower end of the spectrum for deep‑tech startups, it provides the resources needed for the next critical milestones.
Compostable packaging is gaining traction under EU regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and forthcoming circular‑economy initiatives. Manufacturers that can reduce material usage and cost while meeting compostability standards may gain a competitive edge. SurfAce’s coating could enable precisely that, potentially accelerating the adoption of high‑performance compostable packaging.
The company remains in the early commercialisation phase. No additional funding has been announced beyond the CHF 250,000, and SurfAce’s current focus is on scaling production, validating performance at larger volumes, and securing the certifications required for market entry.
In short, SurfAce Cleantech has secured a modest pre‑seed investment that will move its compostable film coating from the lab to industrial trials, with a target for market readiness in early 2027. The next steps involve expanding the team, refining printing processes, and obtaining compostability certification—positioning the company to meet a growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
