Insider Brief
- Radical Dot, an early-stage German climate tech startup, closed an oversubscribed €2.7 million Pre-Seed funding round led by UVC Partners and Visionaries Tomorrow, with support from prominent climate tech leaders and business angels.
- The startup is developing a novel low-temperature catalytic process for chemical recycling, addressing key challenges in the industry by transforming mixed plastic waste into cost-competitive chemical building blocks while reducing energy consumption.
- The funding will support the construction of a continuously operated prototype at the Technical University of Munich, a crucial step toward scaling the technology and engaging industry partners to drive adoption of sustainable solutions in the chemical sector.
PRESS RELEASE – Radical Dot, an early-stage climate deep tech start-up scaling a disruptive chemical recycling technology, announced the successful closing of its oversubscribed €2.7 million Pre-Seed fundraising round. The round was led by UVC Partners and Visionaries Tomorrow, with participation from reputed climate tech leaders and business angels, including Jeremy Oppenheimer (Managing Partner at Systemiq), Thomas Tuchscherer (ex-CFO at Snowflake, Navan, Talend), Lord Adair Turner (Chair of the Energy Transition Commission), Pjotr van Schothorst and Philippe Tardy.
The chemical recycling landscape has seen numerous setbacks, with high energy costs and low virgin plastic prices driving many companies out of business. The chemical industry, responsible for approximately 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, urgently needs scalable, cost-effective solutions to source non-fossil carbon. Historically, energy-intensive processes, high sorting costs, and a low tolerance for mixed input materials have left many recycling ventures unable to compete with fossil-based plastics. Radical Dot’s novel low-temperature catalytic process efficiently transforms mixed plastic waste while significantly reducing energy consumption. The technology ensures the production of cost-competitive chemical building blocks, paving the way for a sustainable and financially viable circular economy.
“Radical Dot is pioneering new recycling technology, turning waste into valuable cost-competitive chemicals while drastically reducing emissions,” said Dr. Andreas Wagner, co-founder and CEO of Radical Dot.
The funds raised will be instrumental in building a continuously operated prototype at Radical Dot’s facility at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), serving as a platform for future scaling and customer engagement.
“Radical Dot addresses a critical market need by turning plastic waste into green carboxylic acids. As industries shift toward sustainable solutions, the demand for green chemicals has never been greater. This is more than an economic opportunity—it’s a chance to drive global change by reducing plastic waste and creating a more sustainable future for the chemical industry,” noted. Amanda Birkenholz from UVC Partners.
“Unlike most other plastic recycling technologies, which are energy-intensive and often limited to processing very clean plastics or a single specific polymer, Radical Dot’s unique technology enables the upcycling of mixed plastic waste into valuable chemicals with favorable process economics. By being cost- competitive, their innovative approach has the potential to redefine the industry with immense economic and environmental impact,” said Dr. Iris ten Have from Visionaries Tomorrow.
Industry veterans have taken notice of Radical Dot’s innovative technology.
“Radical Dot’s young team of entrepreneurs is pushing the chemical industry forward. With their novel technology concept they might be onto something really big, challenging the status quo of chemical recycling”
Heiko Maas, former VP of BASF Pilot Plant Operations
“The pervasive spread of plastic waste is a planetary problem that demands urgent action. Radical Dot has the potential to revolutionize the plastic economy with their novel recycling technology to unlock carbon from waste. Having supported them on their journey, I’ve witnessed firsthand their vision and determination to drive the necessary change with urgency and pragmatism!”
Lucrèce Foufopoulos-DeRidder, former Executive Vice President – Polyolefins & Circular Economy and CTO at Borealis
Radical Dot’s goal is to build a technology platform undercutting fossil prices, aiming to process up to 20% plastic waste globally and abate over 500 million tons of CO2e annually. This aligns with the recently passed EU Plastic Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the industry’s need for renewable, cost-competitive solutions.
Founded by Dr. Andreas Wagner and Alexandre Kremer, the startup emerged from TUM Venture Labs ChemSPACE and Xpreneur. The founders previously led Planet Positive Chemicals at Systemiq, developing the first global roadmap for the chemical industry’s net zero transition. They were driven by the growing opportunity in the field in contrast with the chemical industry’s lag in meeting sustainability targets and fostering innovation compared to other sectors.
“Having witnessed the devastating impacts of plastic pollution firsthand while building waste management infrastructure in Indonesia as part of Project STOP, I have dedicated my career to transforming plastic waste from a societal burden into a valuable resource that drives a sustainable economy.”
Alexandre Kremer, co-founder and COO of Radical Dot
