FundraiseAug 12, 2026, 06:45 UTC

Bulrush-based insulation maker Ponda raises £1.4m on Republic Europe

What's the deal? Ponda, a Bristol biomaterials startup formerly known as Saltyco, has raised more than £1.4m from 213 investors on crowdfunding platform Republic Europe. Shares were priced at £12.54 each for a 15.8% equity share, and the campaign closes soon.

What does it do? Ponda produces plant-based textile insulation from bulrush grown on regenerated wetlands, aiming to help brands cut their environmental impact and restore ecosystems. Its signature product, BioPuff, is a lightweight, water-repellent material used to fill jackets.

Who's involved? The company has worked with Stella McCartney and fashion brands Sheep Inc., Ahluwalia, and Berghaus. Its four founders met while studying at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.

What's the money for? Funds will help Ponda scale manufacturing, drive its go-to-market and eco-corporate merchandise efforts, build a demonstrator, and advance R&D.

Why now? Ponda was awarded a £2.4m project — backed by a £1.9m grant through DEFRA's Farming Innovation Programme — to show how restored wetlands can produce high-value biomaterials while cutting emissions and creating new income for farmers.

In their words: "The past few months have been an incredible period of growth and momentum," co-founder Julian Ellis-Brown wrote on Republic Europe, citing a BioPuff appearance at Berlin Fashion Week and a new collaboration with Imperial College London. "We have an exciting pipeline of partnerships, product launches and wetland projects ahead."

The signal: Ponda's raise reflects growing investor interest in biomaterials that pair commercial products with ecosystem restoration, tying fashion supply chains to regenerative land use.