CHF 40,000 each for startups revolutionizing the polymer foam industry and developing solutions to convert CO2 into Oxygen
25.10.2021
Groam and OXI-ZEN win Venture Kick's second financial and entrepreneurial support stage. Their projects strive to revolutionize the polymer foam industry by introducing sustainable foam solutions applicable across sectors, and enable Co2 emitters and Converters to directly interact and transfer economic value.
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 Groam: Zuzana Sediva and Sophie Grimm
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 OXI-ZEN CEO Christopher Mbanefo, CTO Jithin VG, Advisors John Harris and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
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Groam: Revolutionizing the polymer foam industry
The polymer foam market is huge and estimated at USD 114 B. Polymer foam is contributing to the plastic pollution problem. Fossil-fuel-based plastic resins are mixed with harmful blowing agents or cross-linked foam. Bio-based polymers - based on plants - and compostable solutions are emerging. Yet still, these solutions are mostly more expensive, with low performance, lacking especially flexibility and resilience, or lacking an end to life.
Dr. Zuzana Sediva - currently a Bridge proof of concept fellow at ETH Zurich and Sophie Grimm, an ETH Zurich graduate with material and food science background and strong entrepreneurial drive, are working together to address these issues. At Groam, they srive to revolutionize the polymer foam industry by introducing sustainable foam solutions applicable across sectors. They design foams from agricultural waste streams with an end2life cycle stepping away from linear mass production of virgin material often ending up in landfills. Groam combines raw materials and waste streams with their patented foaming technology achieving environmentally friendly foams. Groam’s first product is a foamed biodegradable plant substrate for vertical farmers. Later, Groam foresees impact in protective packaging for e-commerce or more durable foams e.g. for fast fashion.
They will use the Venture Kick funds for external trials, raw materials, and product development, team and establishing first proof of concept leading to pilots.
OXI-ZEN Solutions: absorbing CO2 and converting it into Oxygen
OXÏ-ZEN is creating a global platform for an emerging eco-system, in which Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emitters and Sequestrators (Convertors) can connect worldwide and transact directly, efficiently with no third party involvement. Public/Private organizations, corporations, and people can transparently sequester their carbon footprint, scientifically verified using the latest satellite data, algorithms, and AI, together with in-situ soil testing, with independent audits.
Custodians of forests and large bodies of water, anywhere on the planet can connect with the global economy and be directly compensated for their valuable service. This allows Convertors to achieve their SDGs while enabling Emitters to fulfill their CSRs and meet ESG criteria of investors.
OXÏ-ZEN was founded by Christopher Mbanefo, MSc Aerospace Eng. and professional pilot, and includes an impressive international scientific team which includes collaborations with RESTOR (ETHZ & GOOGLE), The Crowther Lab / ETHZ, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science, ACCUBITS (leading global developer in Blockchain technology). OXÏ-ZEN has diverse Strategic Global Advisors, and an expanding team of Ambassadors active in Africa, Asia, Central America, Caribbean, and has secured over 18m hectares of terrestrial and marine carbon sinks. OXÏ-ZEN is a member of the SBTI (Science-Based Target Initiative) and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.
The overall global market is estimated at over +USD 250 billion, with the Voluntary Carbon Market expanding and playing an increasingly important role. With just 1% of the market, OXÏ-ZEN would generate an annual trade volume of over USD 2 billion.
They plan to use the Venture Kick Funds to help with the final Roll-Out of their Blockchain platform later this year.
The polymer foam market is huge and estimated at USD 114 B. Polymer foam is contributing to the plastic pollution problem. Fossil-fuel-based plastic resins are mixed with harmful blowing agents or cross-linked foam. Bio-based polymers - based on plants - and compostable solutions are emerging. Yet still, these solutions are mostly more expensive, with low performance, lacking especially flexibility and resilience, or lacking an end to life.
Dr. Zuzana Sediva - currently a Bridge proof of concept fellow at ETH Zurich and Sophie Grimm, an ETH Zurich graduate with material and food science background and strong entrepreneurial drive, are working together to address these issues. At Groam, they srive to revolutionize the polymer foam industry by introducing sustainable foam solutions applicable across sectors. They design foams from agricultural waste streams with an end2life cycle stepping away from linear mass production of virgin material often ending up in landfills. Groam combines raw materials and waste streams with their patented foaming technology achieving environmentally friendly foams. Groam’s first product is a foamed biodegradable plant substrate for vertical farmers. Later, Groam foresees impact in protective packaging for e-commerce or more durable foams e.g. for fast fashion.
They will use the Venture Kick funds for external trials, raw materials, and product development, team and establishing first proof of concept leading to pilots.
OXI-ZEN Solutions: absorbing CO2 and converting it into Oxygen
OXÏ-ZEN is creating a global platform for an emerging eco-system, in which Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emitters and Sequestrators (Convertors) can connect worldwide and transact directly, efficiently with no third party involvement. Public/Private organizations, corporations, and people can transparently sequester their carbon footprint, scientifically verified using the latest satellite data, algorithms, and AI, together with in-situ soil testing, with independent audits.
Custodians of forests and large bodies of water, anywhere on the planet can connect with the global economy and be directly compensated for their valuable service. This allows Convertors to achieve their SDGs while enabling Emitters to fulfill their CSRs and meet ESG criteria of investors.
OXÏ-ZEN was founded by Christopher Mbanefo, MSc Aerospace Eng. and professional pilot, and includes an impressive international scientific team which includes collaborations with RESTOR (ETHZ & GOOGLE), The Crowther Lab / ETHZ, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science, ACCUBITS (leading global developer in Blockchain technology). OXÏ-ZEN has diverse Strategic Global Advisors, and an expanding team of Ambassadors active in Africa, Asia, Central America, Caribbean, and has secured over 18m hectares of terrestrial and marine carbon sinks. OXÏ-ZEN is a member of the SBTI (Science-Based Target Initiative) and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.
The overall global market is estimated at over +USD 250 billion, with the Voluntary Carbon Market expanding and playing an increasingly important role. With just 1% of the market, OXÏ-ZEN would generate an annual trade volume of over USD 2 billion.
They plan to use the Venture Kick Funds to help with the final Roll-Out of their Blockchain platform later this year.