Nettle Circle wins Helvora Fundraising Award
Oberkirch/Ecublens - Nettle Circle has received the Helvora Award. The Lucerne-based startup, which is participating in the EPFL’s Tech4Regen support program, transforms certain nettles into Hilaya, a sustainable natural fiber. The prize gives Nettle Circle access to an Investment Readiness Masterclass offered by Helvora.
Nettle Circle, headquartered in Oberkirch with a second base at the Technopark Luzern in Root, both located in the Swiss canton of Lucerne, has been named as the winner of the Helvora Fundraising Award. The prize is awarded by Helvora, from Ecublens in the Swiss canton of Vaud, which prepares founders to meet the requirements of professional investors through masterclasses, webinars, and coaching sessions.
The award for CEO Cornelia Bamert’s startup, which she founded in 2020 and is part of the Tech4Regen support program at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), includes access to a Helvora Investment Readiness Masterclass valued at 7,500 Swiss francs. As part of the program, startups receive support in preparing for their next funding round by refining their strategy, preparing for investor meetings, and learning about ways to raise capital.
"We are delighted to support Cornelia at this pivotal moment," commented Helvora Co-Founder Enrique Alvarado Hablützel – because "turning a strong regenerative vision into a clear, compelling investor narrative is essential for scaling impact". For Bamert, the support has come at the right time: "As we prepare our next round, this is exactly the support we need most right now: stronger investor readiness, sharper narrative and more confidence in outreach," the CEO is quoted as saying.
Nettle Circle AG processes stinging nettles – mainly the Himalayan species Girardinia diversifolia – into Hilaya, a sustainable natural fiber that provides an environmentally friendly, resource-efficient alternative to imported cotton and synthetic fabrics. To ensure transparency around the origin of its fibers, which are marked with invisible, biodegradable markers, the company uses DNA traceability technology from Haelixa, based in Kemptthal in the Swiss canton of Zurich. "Since nettle fiber is new to the textile market, we wanted to ensure from the beginning that Nettle Circle fibers were uniquely identifiable," said the Nettle Circle CEO in a statement from Haelixa.
