Cambridge biotech startup Neela raises £2.1m to turn waste into aviation fuel

What happened

Cambridge-based startup Neela Biotech has raised £2.1m in pre-seed funding to scale its AI-driven technology that converts food, agricultural and forestry waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The round was led by […] The post Cambridge biotech startup Neela raises £2.1m to turn waste into aviation fuel appeared first on UKTN .

The round was led by climate tech investor Elbow Beach, which contributed £1.5m, with participation from Ascension, Cambridge Enterprise, Ventures Together and strategic angel investors. Neela Biotech is developing a process that operates with AI-guided microbial technology to convert organic waste into fatty acids, a key ingredient in the production of sustainable aviation fuel. Using AI to tackle aviation’s fuel challenge Most sustainable aviation fuel is currently produced using hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), a process that converts waste cooking oils and other fats into fuel.