Melazyme
Melazyme produces high‑purity melanin at industrial scale using a proprietary microbial fermentation platform, offering a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to synthetic pigments.
- Biotechnology
- Clean Technology
- New Materials
Funding
Raised to date
$2MRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
across 1 round
$2M · Seed
Announced May 2026 · from article date
Disclosed cumulative: $2M
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Melanin extraction from natural sources is costly and yields low-purity pigment, limiting its use in industrial applications such as water treatment, metal recovery, and cosmetics. The scarcity and high price of melanin prevent companies from adopting it as a sustainable alternative to synthetic pigments.
Solution
Melazyme produces high‑purity melanin through a proprietary microbial fermentation platform that is both sustainable and scalable. The fermentation process delivers pigment with customizable binding properties, enabling tailored performance for specific applications. By eliminating the need for expensive extraction, the company provides a cost‑effective source of melanin that can be produced at industrial volumes. The resulting pigment offers superior UV‑blocking, metal‑binding, and water‑remediation capabilities compared with synthetic alternatives. Customers can integrate this natural “black gold” into products across mining, water treatment, personal care, and cosmetics to enhance functionality while reducing environmental impact.
Target Audience
Primary customers include mining and resource‑recovery companies, water‑treatment firms, and manufacturers of cosmetics and personal‑care products seeking a natural, high‑performance pigment.
Features
- Proprietary microbial fermentation yielding melanin of higher purity than traditional extraction methods
- Scalable production process suitable for industrial‑level volumes
- Customizable surface chemistry to target specific binding needs (e.g., metal ions, keratin, UV photons)
- Biodegradable and non‑toxic pigment offering natural UV protection superior to titanium dioxide
- Ability to recover valuable metals such as lithium from waste streams through melanin’s chelating properties
- Compatibility with formulations for water remediation, cosmetics, hair colorants, and other personal‑care products