The Bioeconomy Innovation Day 2025, held in Lleida as part of the AgroBioTech Forum, brought together start-ups, industry representatives, researchers, public authorities and investors to explore how innovation, territorial resources and investment can accelerate Catalonia’s transition towards a circular bioeconomy.
As part of the programme, Bioboost contributed with a keynote delivered by Verónica Kuchinow Simbiosy), entitled “How the ecosystem supports bioeconomy businesses in Catalonia”. The presentation highlighted the importance of resource mapping, facilitation and tailored project support to strengthen early-stage initiatives, create investable business models and help projects navigate the path from idea to market.
But one of the central elements of this year’s edition was the Investor Feedback Panel, where three organisations offered direct insights into how they evaluate new bio-based technologies and business models. Their contributions provided the audience with highly practical guidance on what it takes to attract investment in today’s circular bioeconomy landscape.
A multi-perspective investor panel
The event featured three complementary types of investors, each bringing a different angle on innovation, risk and scale-up potential:
European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)
Representative: Michael Brandkamp, Managing Partner
ECBF is the first venture fund in Europe fully dedicated to the circular bioeconomy. The fund invests in companies with scalable innovations in bio-based materials, green chemistry, advanced processes and new value chains.
- Typical investment: EUR 2–10 million (Series A+)
- Key perspective: Strong focus on scale, technological robustness and clear plans for expansion into European and global markets.
Michael Brandkamp emphasised the importance of understanding the maturity level of the technology and demonstrating credible paths to commercialisation.
META Group
Representative: Jan Debbets, Early stage investing and innovation expert
META Group specialises in early-stage innovation, seed investment and technology transfer.
- Key perspective: Strengthening investment readiness, validating market assumptions and helping new ventures navigate the first steps towards commercialisation.
Their experience across multiple European regions provides experience-based insight into the needs and vulnerabilities of early-stage bioeconomy projects.
What investors are really looking for: key takeaways from the panel
Across these diverse investment profiles, several shared messages emerged — offering practical guidance to emerging bioeconomy projects in Catalonia:
1. Market first, always
Investors agreed that the existence of a real buyer or committed client is the strongest signal of viability. If a project can demonstrate confirmed demand or a clear customer segment, the investment case becomes significantly stronger.
2. Attractive market size
Projects entering markets with strong growth potential are seen as more investable.
A large and expanding market — even at global scale — gives confidence that the innovation can grow beyond a niche application.
3. A clear roadmap for the project’s evolution
Bioeconomy projects rarely grow in a single step. Investors emphasised the importance of:
- understanding the different investment phases (early development, validation, pilot, scale-up),
- knowing what is needed at each stage,
- and having realistic expectations regarding timing and capital needs.
4. Technology is important — but context matters
Investors look for projects that combine solid technology with:
- realistic cost structures,
- credible supply chains,
- access to biomass or bio-based feedstock,
- and a clear regulatory understanding.
5. Strong teams and good facilitation
Beyond financials, investors noted that teams who understand their territory, their partnerships and their support ecosystem are more likely to reach investment readiness. Good facilitation — including support from initiatives like Bioboost — can significantly accelerate this trajectory.
Bioboost’s contribution to investment readiness in Catalonia
The insights from the Investor Feedback Panel strongly align with Bioboost’s mission: to help bioeconomy projects in Catalonia become technically sound, strategically structured and investment-ready.
Through its Project Development Assistance services — covering facilitation, technical support, financial preparation and legal-administrative guidance — Bioboost helps project promoters:
- map and valorise local biomass resources,
- build partnerships across value chains,
- develop credible business models,
- prepare documentation for investor conversations, and
- navigate the different stages of project maturity.
The Bioeconomy Innovation Day 2025 reinforced the importance of this integrated support. As both investors and industry confirmed, a strong ecosystem, solid facilitation and well-prepared project teams are key to building the next generation of bio-based solutions in Catalonia.
