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altM Raises $10.3 Million to Turn Farm Waste Into Chemicals

Rainmatter and Mela Ventures lead the Bengaluru startup's Series A round.

altM funding: dry agricultural residue, the raw material altM turns into specialty chemicals

Key Takeaways

  • altM raised $10.3 million in a Series A round.
  • Rainmatter and Mela Ventures, both new investors, led the round.
  • The Bengaluru startup makes specialty chemicals from agricultural residue.
  • It raised a $3.5 million seed round in 2023.
  • Its first products include an SPF booster for suncare.
Table of Contents 7 sections
  1. altM funding at a glance
  2. What altM does
  3. How altM got started and its funding so far
  4. The first altM products
  5. Where altM stands after its Series A
  6. More funding news
  7. FAQs

altM, a Bengaluru-based specialty chemicals startup, has raised $10.3 million in a Series A round led by Rainmatter, the fund backed by Zerodha, and Mela Ventures. Both are new investors in the company.

Existing investors Omnivore, Theia Ventures, Aureolis Ventures and Spectrum Impact also took part in the round.

altM funding at a glance

DetailaltM
Amount$10.3 million
RoundSeries A
Lead investorsRainmatter and Mela Ventures
Other investorsOmnivore, Theia Ventures, Aureolis Ventures, Spectrum Impact
SectorSpecialty chemicals from agricultural residue
CityBengaluru

What altM does

altM turns agricultural residue such as sugarcane bagasse and rice straw into specialty chemicals and biomaterials. Its platform separates cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin from a single feedstock, so one input can yield several products.

How altM got started and its funding so far

altM was founded in 2022 by Apoorv Garg and Yugal Raj Jain, who are former Tesla executives. It raised a $3.5 million seed round in 2023.

WhenMilestone
2022altM is founded by Apoorv Garg and Yugal Raj Jain
2023The company raises a $3.5 million seed round
November 2026The company raises $10.3 million in a Series A round

The first altM products

The first products are a lignin-derived SPF booster for suncare, a cellulose-based rheology modifier, and bio-derived ferulic acid for cosmetics and personal care.

Where altM stands after its Series A

With this round, altM has raised a Series A on top of its $3.5 million seed round from 2023. The company is based in Bengaluru and works on products for the beauty and personal care sector, among others.

More funding news

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much did altM raise?

altM raised $10.3 million in a Series A round.

Who led altM's round?

Rainmatter, the fund backed by Zerodha, and Mela Ventures led altM's Series A round.

What does altM do?

altM turns agricultural residue such as sugarcane bagasse and rice straw into specialty chemicals and biomaterials.

Who founded altM?

altM was founded in 2022 by Apoorv Garg and Yugal Raj Jain, who are former Tesla executives.

When was altM founded?

altM was founded in 2022.

Where is altM based?

altM is based in Bengaluru.

How much had altM raised before this round?

altM raised a $3.5 million seed round in 2023.

Which existing investors took part in altM's Series A?

Omnivore, Theia Ventures, Aureolis Ventures and Spectrum Impact, all existing investors, took part in the round.

How does altM make multiple products from one input?

altM's platform separates cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin from a single feedstock, so one input can yield several products.

What are altM's first products?

They are a lignin-derived SPF booster for suncare, a cellulose-based rheology modifier, and bio-derived ferulic acid for cosmetics and personal care.

Which investors are new to altM?

Rainmatter and Mela Ventures are new investors in altM.

What is Rainmatter?

Rainmatter is the fund backed by Zerodha.

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