Cellarim Labs, a biotechnology startup specializing in cell-free biomanufacturing for the beauty and personal care industry, announced today that it has raised ₹6 crore in a seed funding round. The investment was co-led by 3i Partners and Venture Catalysts, with significant participation from Momentum Capital, Jashan Bhumkar, Gayathri Kuppendra Reddy, and other angel investors.
Scaling Sustainable Beauty
The startup plans to utilize the fresh capital to establish a pilot-scale biomanufacturing facility and accelerate the commercial production of its flagship product, NeuHyal. Additionally, the funds will support the expansion of its B2B supply chain, providing high-purity ingredients to global beauty and cosmetic brands.
Founded in 2023 by Hitesh Rafalia and Nisa Mehreen, Cellarim Labs is tackling critical pain points in the cosmetic ingredient market, including:
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Import Dependency: Reducing the industry’s reliance on imported bioactives.
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Supply Volatility: Stabilizing the availability of key ingredients.
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Quality Control: Eliminating variability in purity and specifications.
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Cost Efficiency: Lowering the barrier to entry for brands seeking high-end ingredients.
The Technology: Cell-Free “Clean Chemistry”
Unlike traditional methods that rely on slow fermentation or resource-heavy chemical synthesis, Cellarim Labs has developed a cell-free, enzyme-based manufacturing platform. By combining enzyme engineering with advanced bioprocessing, the company converts renewable bio-waste into ultra-pure cosmetic ingredients.
“Cell-free biomanufacturing allows us to rethink how high-value ingredients are made,” said Nisa Mehreen, Co-founder & CEO. “Our focus is to build a sustainable platform that delivers high-purity bioactives like NeuHyal™ with unmatched precision and transparency.”
The company is also pioneering an AI-driven biofoundry. This platform allows partner brands to submit target molecules for rapid design, testing, and production, significantly cutting down the development timelines for new bioactive ingredients.
NeuHyal: A New Standard for Hyaluronic Acid
Cellarim’s first major breakthrough is the launch of NeuHyal, a comprehensive Hyaluronic Acid portfolio ranging from 10 kDa to 5000 kDa. Developed in under a year, the product line is designed for skincare, dermal fillers, and medical-grade applications.
The company is initially targeting the global Hyaluronic Acid market, currently valued at approximately $9 billion. With its 95% higher yield and 90% lower water usage compared to traditional methods, Cellarim Labs is positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of eco-friendly, “clean label” beauty.
By: Vanshika Tayal
