ZYMVOL, a Spanish biotech startup specialising in computational enzyme discovery and design, has snapped €3 million in seed funding. The investment round was led by Faber Ventures, with participation from existing pre-seed investor Elaia Partners and Übermorgen Ventures.
Fuels expansion and innovation
The fresh capital injection will enable ZYMVOL to accelerate its growth in several key areas:
- Enhancing its experimental lab at the Barcelona Science Park to validate enzyme discoveries faster.
- Advancing its proprietary computational technology to improve enzyme predictions and efficiency.
- Expanding its sales and marketing team to attract new clients and expand industry reach.
- Bringing its first custom-made enzyme kits to market, making enzyme applications more accessible.
Revolutionising industrial enzymes
Enzymes, also known as biocatalysts, are proteins naturally found in living organisms that speed up chemical reactions. Industries have long used them to improve products such as detergents and lactose-free milk, as well as to replace polluting, traditional catalysts. However, for enzymes to function in industrial environments, they must be engineered to withstand extreme conditions. Conventional enzyme engineering relies on slow, expensive trial-and-error experimentation, which can take months or even years to yield results.
Founded in 2017 by Emanuele Monza, Victor Gil, and Maria Fatima Lucas in Barcelona, ZYMVOL is on a mission to democratise the use of sustainable and improved enzymes across various industries. The company works with R&D teams from some of the world’s largest firms to enhance production processes, fostering innovation while reducing environmental impact through custom-designed enzymatic solutions.
ZYMVOL’s innovative approach changes this paradigm. The company employs highly realistic in silico (computer-simulated) experiments that replicate real-world conditions with over 90% accuracy. This technology drastically reduces development time and costs by identifying the most promising enzyme candidates before they reach the laboratory stage. Additionally, its platform allows the discovery of new enzymes for specific reactions without requiring prior data, unlocking new opportunities for industries seeking enzymatic solutions.
Strategic growth
The startup has completed over 100 projects across multiple sectors, primarily in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The company collaborates with high-profile clients such as Axplora, Medichem, and Sanofi, providing tailored enzymatic solutions that improve efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing.
With a team of over 20 multidisciplinary professionals and offices in Barcelona and Boston, it is poised for its next phase of growth. The company’s ability to simulate millions of experiments digitally gives it a competitive edge in a rapidly expanding enzyme market.
A future powered by enzymes
Enzymes are at the forefront of sustainable industrial transformation. Their ability to function under mild conditions, reducing energy consumption and eliminating toxic chemical usage, makes them an essential tool in creating a greener economy. By making enzyme engineering more efficient and cost-effective, ZYMVOL is all set to lead the shift towards cleaner, more sustainable industrial processes.
With strong investor backing and a clear technological advantage, its future looks promising as it continues to shape the next generation of enzyme-based solutions.
“Enzymes are tiny chemical factories that are responsible for all transformations in Nature. Zymvol is harnessing their power to deliver clean, sustainable chemical processes to companies striving to improve their products and operations—paving the way for a better world,” stated Maria Fátima Lucas, CEO of ZYMVOL.
“Enzymes power innovation across industries, from sustainable manufacturing to pharmaceutical breakthroughs. However, biocatalysis presents significant challenges —enzyme discovery and engineering remain complex, costly, and time-consuming. Zymvol’s advanced computational solutions go beyond improving efficiency; they strengthen industrial resilience, drive sustainable innovation, and shape the future of global production,” stated Sofia Santos, Partner at Faber Ventures.
“Over the past few years, Zymvol has revolutionised the way enzymes are discovered and engineered. Zymvol now outperforms alternative solutions across all key factors, including speed of development, specificity and efficiency. We are pleased to continue supporting the company as it expands its portfolio of enzymes and scales operations internationally,” said Sébastien Lefebvre, Partner at Elaia.
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