Indigo dye start-up raises millions in funding exercise
Biosynthetic indigo dye developer Huue raised $14.6 million in new funding at the end of July.
California-based Huue’s idea is to use genetic information it has amassed on which enzymes lead plants or animals to create a particular colour and then programme microbes to reproduce particular enzymes as they grow.
The indigo plant’s production of indigo dye is one of a number of instances of colour creation in nature that founders Michelle Zhu and Dr Tammy Hsu have studied.
They are now developing a pilot for indigo production and will work with Adriano Goldschmied, Huue’s denim innovation advisor, to build partnerships with the industry and try their dye in jeans.
The July funding round brought in HSBC Asset Management’s Climate Tech venture capital arm as a new investor. Boston-based private equity firm Material Impact also invested and one of its partners, Corinna Chen, will take a seat on Huue’s board as part of the deal.
Huue's founders, founders Michelle Zhu and Dr Tammy Hsu. Credit: Kelsey McClellan.
