A&B Smart Materials, an innovative Oxford-based startup, has successfully closed a £1.5 million Pre-Seed funding round. The oversubscribed round attracted strong investor interest, including new strategic partners. The company specializes in creating sustainable superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), essential for products like disposable diapers and sanitary items. These polymers also help agricultural soils retain water during droughts.
The funds raised will accelerate research and development efforts. A&B aims to optimize its eco-friendly SAP formulations for high performance, competitive pricing, and scalability. Their long-term goal is to replace traditional fossil-based SAPs in a market projected to reach $17 billion by 2035.
The funding round was led by existing investor Sake Bosch, with new contributions from Caesar and Living Hope VC. Additional participation came from Archipelago Ventures, Triple Impact Ventures, Cranfield University Seed Fund, Oxford Seed Fund, and notable business angels from Cambridge and Oxford networks.
The global SAP market is sizable and growing rapidly, with annual sales around $9.1 billion. It’s expected to expand to $17.6 billion by 2035. Most SAPs are used in hygiene products like nappies and menstrual pads, with increasing use in agriculture, medical devices, construction, and water treatment.
Current synthetic SAPs are highly absorbent but environmentally persistent, made from fossil fuels. They often accumulate as microplastics, polluting soils, waterways, and oceans. Globally, 250 million nappies are disposed of daily, with 300,000 ending up in landfills or incineration every minute.
Built on novel biopolymers from natural materials, A&B’s technology already approaches commercial performance. The new funding will help refine manufacturing processes and scale production, positioning the company for future growth.
