The $7 million Series A funding round for Nibertex, a deep-tech manufacturing company based in Singapore that specializes in waterproof and breathable textile membranes free of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), was successfully closed last Friday.
According to a statement from Nibertex, the round was led by the Southeast Asian venture capital firm TNB Aura, with involvement from current investors Foxmont Capital Partners, Faircrest Holding, and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Nibertex will use this Series A funding to increase production and meet rising demand by deploying capital expenditures to expand manufacturing capacity.
Additionally, the company will promote research and development (R&D). It will hasten the development of membrane applications for sectors other than clothing.
Additionally, the company will expand its market reach. It will establish strategic alliances with international brands and scale go-to-market initiatives.
“This funding milestone represents a pivotal moment for Nibertex as we scale our operations to meet the surging global demand for sustainable textile alternatives,
“Our proprietary nanospinning technology gives us a competitive edge in delivering high-performance, environmentally responsible solutions that the industry desperately needs,” said Jae H. Park, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Nibertex.
The necessity of industry change was also underlined by Richard Beck, the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Nibertex and a former senior executive at W. L. Gore & Associates (GORE-TEX).
“PFAS-free performance materials are no longer a ‘nice to have’ — they’re fast becoming a requirement. At Nibertex, we’re combining decades of scientific and commercial expertise to deliver membrane solutions that meet real-world technical demands,
“With our global outlook and deep materials knowledge, we aim to serve as a trusted partner to manufacturers navigating this critical shift,” he added.
In order to provide water and stain resistance, PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are frequently used in items such as rain jackets, sportswear, medical gowns, food packaging, and non-stick cookware.
However, because of these substances’ environmental persistence and connections to major health issues, they are currently being closely examined worldwide.
As bans spread throughout Asia-Pacific, the European Union, and the United States, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to find substitutes without sacrificing performance.
With a proprietary electrospinning (nanospinning) technology and formula, Nibertex tackles this problem by creating PFAS-free, waterproof, and breathable membranes that offer excellent performance and environmental responsibility.
“Nibertex is solving a pressing challenge for the global materials industry. Their early commercial success, coupled with cost-effective manufacturing capabilities in the Philippines and a product that stands strong against global membrane players, we have high conviction,
“This marks TNB Aura’s first major investment in the Philippines, and we’re excited to partner with Nibertex to scale a solution with true global potential,” said Vicknesh Pillay, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at TNB Aura.
