Elastin pioneer matrihealth completes further seven-figure financing round

matrihealth GmbH, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, is a global pioneer in the production of industrially usable elastin. In May 2024, the company secured initial financing in the seven-figure range from venture capital investors from industry and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft. Follow-up financing is being provided by existing investors, including Montan-Ventures-Saar GmbH, the corporate venture arm of the Montan-Saar Foundation. The additional funds will be used to finance the market entry of food-grade elastin and further growth in the medical and cosmetics sectors. To this end, a further production facility for high-purity elastin has been built at the Halle (Saale) site in recent months and will be commissioned by the end of the year. Marketing and sales capacities are also being built up in the vicinity of the company's headquarters.

Thanks to its proximity to universities, research institutions such as the Fraunhofer IMWS, and the Weinberg Campus technology park, the location offers excellent conditions for start-ups in the biotechnology sector and for technology transfer from research. As part of research collaborations, matrihealth also works with renowned international companies in the food and cosmetics industry in the field of product development.

matrihealth GmbH was spun off from Fraunhofer IMWS in 2022. The matrihealth founding team has developed a method for isolating elastin and making it available as a highly pure, easily configurable biomaterial for industrial use. Elastin is one of the most important structural proteins and is essential for the elasticity and tensile strength of organs and tissues. In addition, elastin can improve wound healing and serves as an important component in the development of artificial tissues.

Since starting operations, matrihealth has launched eleven products for specific applications, ranging from water-soluble elastin to elastin powder and flakes to chemically modified elastin variants for special applications in biomaterial research. In addition, the company has established technological processes for the production of nanofiber nonwovens and protein sponges for medical applications and holds its own patents in the field of chemical modification of elastin. As part of the follow-up financing, Fraunhofer Intellectual Property (IP) is transferred to the company, which was previously used by matrihealth in a licensing model.

The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is one of the initial financiers. Fraunhofer Venture supported the team during the start-up phase. Since then, the investment managers and legal counsels have been accompanying the young biotech company.

Tobias Hedtke, Managing Director of matrihealth, explains the new financing round: "We are delighted that the development and success of matrihealth to date has convinced our existing investors. We see the successful financing round as confirmation of our work and as a strong impetus for opening up new market segments as we continue to scale our business."

(September 25, 2025)