Cambridge-Based PACT Raises €17.2M To Scale Collagen-Based Sustainable Alternative To Plastic Textiles

Forbion is a global venture capital firm with offices in Naarden (Netherlands), Munich (Germany), and Boston (USA).

It manages around €5B across multiple funds, investing in innovative biotech companies at all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical development.

“PACT has combined scientific rigour with design excellence to create a biomaterial platform that meets the highest standards of performance, sustainability, and scalability,” says Joy Faucher, Partner at Forbion BioEconomy.

The funding will accelerate the commercial launch of Oval and expand production capacity at PACT’s newly opened pilot line in Cambridge. Oval is PACT’s flagship next-generation, collagen-based biomaterial designed for scalable roll-to-roll manufacturing.

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“Oval is engineered to meet the creative, commercial, and environmental demands of global brands, offering a drop-in solution to replace plastic across fashion, interiors, footwear, and automotive applications,” says the company.

PACT operates a 13,000-square-foot facility equipped with advanced laboratories and pilot-scale production areas.

“We believe Oval has the potential to redefine how global brands source and use materials, offering a credible and commercially viable alternative to plastic-coated textiles and beyond,” adds Faucher.

The expansion comes as brands face growing pressure from new EU regulations requiring stronger sustainability standards and greater supply chain transparency. The funding will help PACT scale production, meet demand from top luxury and lifestyle brands, and expand into interiors, footwear, and automotive markets.

Led by Dr. Yudí Ding, PACT focuses on designing sustainable materials using natural resources blending collagen, herbal extracts, oils, and minerals sourced directly from the earth.

“I’ve always been obsessed with creating new materials that are not only functional and kind to the planet, but also inherently beautiful materials that feel gentle on the skin, supple and pleasing to touch,” says Dr. Yudí Ding, co-founder and CEO of PACT.

PACT’s biomaterial provides a sustainable scalable alternative to traditional plastic-based textile coatings offering distinctive aesthetics and texture. Its flagship product, Oval, repurposes surplus cosmetic-grade collagen with herbal extracts and natural oils, creating a traceable material compatible with existing supply chains.

“As a Cambridge-trained scientist, developing them in the lab isn’t the hard part; the real challenge lies in scaling them to meet the exacting standards of the textile industry. From our very first investment, I realised that industrialisation and scalability are essential to making materials innovation truly succeed. That’s why we see existing manufacturers as key partners in this journey,” adds Dr. Yudí Ding.

HV Capital is one of Europe’s leading early-stage and growth investors. Over 25 years and nine fund generations, it has invested €2.8B in more than 250 internet and tech companies, with ticket sizes from €0.5M to €60M.

“HV Capital is thrilled to back PACT as they redefine how sustainable consumer materials can scale in fashion and other markets. Their formulations are true drop-in solutions-seamlessly integrating into existing manufacturing infrastructure to replace high-volume, revenue-driving SKUs not just niche capsule collections. What excites us most is Yudi and the team’s rare combination of deep technical expertise and a genuine understanding of fashion customers. That blend positions PACT to lead the industry’s transition at scale, not at the margins”, says Maxi Pethö-Schramm, Principal at HV Capital.