A Vancouver-based startup is advancing a new approach to materials innovation by turning waste into high-performance biomaterials.
Tydra Biomaterial Labs has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to scale a proprietary process that converts local waste streams into chitin-based materials—an abundant but historically under utilized resource with applications across packaging, cosmetics, food, and agriculture.
The round was led by Spring Impact Capital and included participation from Alacrity Canada, BetterWay Ventures, Brown Girl Angels, Capital M Ventures, Espera Ventures, Front Row Ventures, Propel Impact, The Firehood, and UBC Ventures.
Earlier this year Techcouver named Tydra Labs one of 10 B.C. startups to watch in 2026.
The financing comes at a moment when global supply chains remain fragile and industries are seeking domestic alternatives to petroleum-based inputs. Tydra’s model aims to address both challenges by localizing production while reducing environmental impact.
Chitin, a naturally occurring material found in crustacean shells and fungi, is one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. Despite its strength, biodegradability, and versatility, it has seen limited commercial use due to costly and often toxic extraction methods.
Tydra says its proprietary process changes that equation.
By enabling the localized production of high-quality chitin from multiple waste streams, the company claims it can deliver materials with a significantly lower environmental footprint while also achieving cost competitiveness—two barriers that have historically limited adoption.
“This is a high-performance material that is not only environmentally sustainable, but can also scale to compete on cost,” said Graham Day, partner at Spring Impact Capital. “Policy and consumer tailwinds are growing the market. The timing couldn’t be better.”
The company’s materials are being developed for a range of use cases, including barrier coatings for sustainable packaging, natural ingredients for cosmetics, food preservation solutions, and agricultural inputs that support soil health.
The funding will support Tydra’s transition from early validation to commercialization, including scaling pilot production and expanding partnerships with early customers.
“We are one step closer to unlocking the full potential of next-generation biomaterials grown in Canada,” said Athanasios Kritharis, CEO of Tydra Labs. “We believe the future of materials is grown, not extracted.”
As demand for sustainable, locally produced materials accelerates, Tydra’s approach reflects a broader shift toward circular manufacturing—where waste is not an endpoint, but a starting point for new industrial inputs.
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