Vancouver biotech startup BryoSphere Biotechnologies has secured new funding from OKGN WMAN to scale its production of plant-based ingredients for skincare products.
The amount of the investment was not disclosed.
The women-led company genetically engineers moss to produce bioactive ingredients inside photobioreactors. BryoSphere says its patented moss lines can be grown cost-effectively at commercial scale while offering beauty brands a traceable and sustainable alternative to conventionally sourced skincare ingredients.
BryoSphere’s first product is BryoBright, an engineered moss extract enriched with aureusidin, a rare plant compound developed to address dark spot discolouration. According to the company, aureusidin’s scarcity and production complexity previously prevented its use at commercial scale.
BryoBright is designed for skincare brands seeking a plant-based brightening ingredient that supports a more even-looking skin tone and improved radiance.
“Our beachhead is the $658-million hyperpigmentation segment, where demand for brightening products is rising rapidly,” said BryoSphere co-founder Hila Behar. “For skincare brands seeking a high-performance, clean-label brightening ingredient, BryoBright offers a safe, effective solution for hyperpigmentation—without the toxicity or regulatory baggage of legacy ingredients like hydroquinone or arbutin.”
BryoSphere’s broader biomanufacturing platform draws on the natural properties of moss to develop ingredients targeting skin concerns that include inflammation and ultraviolet damage. By growing engineered moss in controlled photobioreactors, the startup aims to provide manufacturers with a reliable supply of bioactives without depending on scarce plants or resource-intensive extraction methods.
“BryoSphere has unlocked the code for commercial-scale production of plant-based bioactive ingredients that are safe, transparently sourced, cost-effective and high-performance,” said Camille Saltman, co-founder and general partner of OKGN WMAN.
Saltman said the investor sees growing demand for plant-based ingredients as consumers question synthetic actives and skincare brands respond to evolving retailer and regulatory requirements.
Based in Kelowna, OKGN WMAN invests in scalable Canadian businesses founded or led by women that address challenges facing people and the planet. The angel fund says its investment in BryoSphere also responds to the persistent funding gap confronting women entrepreneurs in Canada.
The new capital will support BryoSphere as it works to bring BryoBright and future moss-derived ingredients into commercial skincare formulations.
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