PeelON, a biotech startup specializing in biodegradable and compostable packaging for fresh produce, has raised $1 million in a seed funding round led by growX Ventures, a deep-tech-focused VC firm.
The round also saw participation from Boston Venture Group, Clean Energy Venture Group, and Climate Angels.
The funding will be utilized to expand R&D and production facilities in Visakhapatnam, strengthen teams across sales (USA & India), R&D, and regulatory compliance, and launch marketing campaigns to scale adoption.
Founded in 2020 by Taraka Ramji Moturu and Venkata Ravi Sankar Ummidi, PeelON develops plant-based films that can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by up to 3x. Its B2B model targets farmers, exporters, and retailers, aiming to replace single-use plastics in the fresh produce supply chain.
PeelON’s flagship products include:
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PeelON-Fresh → liners for bulk shipments.
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PeelON-Retail+ → retail-ready compostable bags infused with natural antimicrobial agents & ethylene scavengers to maintain freshness and reduce spoilage.
The solutions are already in use for crops like cilantro, broccoli, leafy greens, rambutan, and bananas, with clients across Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh (India) and Texas, Florida & California (USA).
The startup is also collaborating with universities and compostable materials labs in India and the US to diversify applications.
Looking ahead, PeelON aims to expand production in India & the US, establish itself as the preferred packaging partner for exporters in India, Mexico & Southeast Asia, and introduce retail compostable packaging formats in the US & Canada. Additionally, it is piloting a blockchain-enabled traceability platform for carbon tracking and shelf-life validation.
By: Arushi Agarwal
