Atelerix Secures €894K to Revolutionize Biosample Transport and Storage with Sustainable Hydrogel Technology

The funding round saw contributions from ACF Investors and biotech-focused o2h Ventures. The company plans to utilize the investment to expand its branding and sales strategies while encouraging broader adoption of its hydrogel technology, which promises to simplify the logistics of biosample transport and reduce costs for researchers and healthcare providers alike.

Alastair Carrington, CEO of Atelerix, explained, “Atelerix is transforming biological transport by eliminating the need for deep freezing, setting a sharp new standard that displaces traditional cryologistics. Through innovative partnerships with leading life science companies and strong customer validation, we are redefining how laboratories operate worldwide. This funding enables us to accelerate the global adoption of our technology, expand our customer base, and advance our mission to create a more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable future for bioscience.”

Founded in 2017 by Che John Connon, Mick McLean, and Stephen Swioklo, Atelerix’s technology was inspired by the African four-toed pygmy hedgehog, scientifically known as Atelerix albiventris. This creature’s ability to enter a state of hibernation during low temperatures mirrors the company’s core innovation: a hydrogel-based solution that allows biological samples to pause their life processes during transport or storage, eliminating the need for cryopreservation.

Traditional methods for preserving biological samples during transport rely heavily on deep freezing, which can reduce the viability of cells by up to 50% post-thaw. Additionally, some biological materials, such as tissues and blood products, cannot be frozen at all, leading to inflexible and wasteful supply chains. Atelerix addresses these challenges with its patented hydrogel encapsulation technology, which preserves cells, tissues, and other samples at temperatures between 4°C and 25°C. The company claims this method maintains over 90% cell viability for up to 14 days and reduces shipping costs by as much as 80% per shipment.

Beyond the logistical and financial benefits, Atelerix’s approach offers significant environmental advantages. Traditional cryopreservation relies on energy-intensive freezers and hazardous refrigerants such as dry ice, which contribute to high carbon emissions. By eliminating the need for such equipment, Atelerix reports that its technology can reduce CO2 emissions by 99.7% per shipment, offering a more sustainable alternative for the life sciences sector.

The company’s innovative approach and strong intellectual property portfolio have garnered significant interest from investors and life science companies alike. Sam Fennell, Partner at ACF Investors, commented, “Atelerix’s disruptive platform technology, strong IP, and rapidly expanding customer base put the company in a strong position to capitalize on increasing demand for sustainable logistics solutions.”

Similarly, Sunil Shah, CEO of o2h Ventures, shared insights into the practical applications of the technology. Shah described a scenario where Atelerix’s hydrogel was tested on live cells shipped from the UK to India. Despite an unexpected five-day customs delay, 40% of the cells survived—a noteworthy result, as traditional dry ice methods would likely have resulted in total sample loss under similar conditions.

With the additional funding, Atelerix plans to focus on converting early adopters into long-term customers while scaling its operations to meet the growing demand for its technology. As the company continues to innovate, it aims to ease bottlenecks in drug development and cell therapy research, ensuring researchers can focus on advancing science and improving patient care.