Rubi Raises $7.5M, Partners with H&M for CO₂ Fabric
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- Rubi raised $7.5 million in a financing round led by AP Ventures and FH One Investments, with participation from CMPC Ventures, H&M Group, Talis Capital, and Understorey Ventures, to build a demonstration‑scale cellulosic production system.
- Rubi has secured more than $60 million in non‑binding off‑take agreements and tested its CO₂‑derived cellulose with 15 pilot partners, including H&M, Patagonia, and Walmart.
- Rubi uses a cascade of enzymes, rather than engineered bacteria or chemical catalysts, to convert captured carbon dioxide into textile‑grade cellulose for lyocell and viscose.
- Rubi’s enzyme process currently operates in aqueous solution within shipping‑container‑sized reactors, producing white cellulose within minutes of CO₂ addition, with plans to shift to continuous production.
- Rubi leverages AI and machine‑learning techniques to improve enzyme efficacy and stability, according to co‑founder and CEO Neeka Mashouf.
- Neeka Mashouf says the existing enzyme industry’s scale and low cost enable Rubi to aim for low‑cost, platform‑wide production of chemicals and materials across the economy.
Why it matters: The deal gives H&M and other fashion brands a low‑cost, carbon‑neutral source of cellulose, potentially reducing reliance on tree‑based pulp and cutting the sector’s carbon footprint, while Rubi secures funding and off‑take agreements that de‑risk its scaling and could accelerate broader adoption of enzyme‑based CO₂ conversion across industries.
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