Vyld, a Berlin-based profit-for-purpose company, has successfully completed a significant seed funding round, securing a seven-figure sum to advance its mission of developing sustainable, ocean-friendly products. The funding round, backed by a blend of government funds, the EU, and a cohort of angel investors and venture funds, reflects a growing interest in sustainable innovations in the women’s health sector.
Founded by Ines Schiller, Vyld is pioneering the use of seaweed as a raw material for absorbent products. The company’s flagship products, Kelpon and Dyper, are testament to its commitment to eco-friendly solutions. Kelpon, the world’s first tampon made from seaweed, and Dyper, a compostable diaper with an algae core, are set to redefine the market with their radical sustainability.
The Future Profit Partnership Agreement (FPPA) model, developed by Schiller, was a key element in the funding round. This innovative financing instrument, which merges the benefits of equity and debt capital, aligns with Vyld’s vision of steward ownership and self-determination. The FPPA ensures that the company remains independent, allowing profits to be reinvested or used for philanthropic purposes, while providing a reasonable return to investors.
“Tackling questions of ownership, power and financing is crucial to me as an entrepreneur. Business models create realities and extractive models do not only threaten the environment and health, but also reproduce exploitative standards and anti-democratic tendencies. We want to counter this with a model that promotes creation instead of consumption, quality instead of quantity and triple top line instead of hypergrowth,” explains Vyld CEO Ines Schiller.
With its model, Vyld is particularly appealing to investors who want to invest their money in a regenerative way and critically question the maximum principle. Investor Kai Viehof explains: “Vyld shows that neither shareholder value-driven venture capital nor unbridled growth is needed to successfully implement sustainable ideas that really make a difference for our planet and our society. However, change can only become possible on a broad scale if investors also rethink and provide the necessary capital fairly and with reasonable return expectations.”
The funding will fuel the further development and market launch of Vyld’s innovative products. Following the Kelpon’s successful consumer trial in late 2023, the company has initiated the pilot phase for the Dyper. This product is part of the Windelwald (‘diaper forest’) project in collaboration with Goldeimer. The Dyper, which is free from plastic and superabsorbents, is being tested in 50 households for its everyday usability and potential as a humus fertilizer. In a unique environmental initiative, the used diapers will be composted and the resulting fertilizer will be used to plant a forest – the ‘diaper forest’.
In addition to advancing its product line, Vyld is committed to sharing its knowledge and experience with the broader community. The company is making its financing model available as an open-source case study, encouraging others to adopt similar sustainable and regenerative approaches.
Vyld’s vision extends beyond individual products to an ‘Algaeverse’ of healthy, sustainable non-food products that leverage algae’s potential as a raw material and contribute to ocean regeneration. With its innovative approach and backing from forward-thinking investors, Vyld is poised to make a significant impact on women’s health products and the broader sustainability landscape.
