Madrid Connect 2025

28–29 Oct 2025 | Madrid, Spain

InvestmentUpdated on 10 October 2025

Protiva - Seed Round

Textile Engineer

Buenos Aires, Argentina

About

Protiva is a biotech startup developing bio-based dyes produced by extremophilic bacteria, designed to replace petrochemical colorants and bring real sustainability to the textile industry. By combining microbial fermentation with green chemistry, Protiva creates high-performance pigments that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and compatible with industrial dyeing and printing processes.

The company is led by a 4 co-founders:

  • Esteban Silva (CEO) – Business strategist with biological background.

  • Carola Campanelli (CTO) – Biotechnologist specializing in bioprocess optimization.

  • Emilia Cardoso (CSO) – Microbiologist with expertise in extremophiles and natural pigment biosynthesis.

  • Gonzalo Pulka (CPO) – Textile engineer with broad experience within the textile industry.

Protiva completed a pre-seed investment round through GridX and is now preparing a Seed round to scale production, expand commercialization, and develop a full color palette of sustainable bio-based dyes for multiple applications — starting with textiles and extending to materials such as packaging, cosmetics and food.

Through its combination of science, design, and circular economy principles, Protiva aims to redefine how color is made and used — decarbonizing, detoxifying, and localizing color production for a cleaner future in fashion and beyond.

Stage

  • Seed and Development
  • Startup

Applies to

  • Environment
  • Materials and Chemicals

Similar opportunities

  • Partnership

    Scale-up CMO

    • Business
    • Knowledge transfer
    • Technology transfer
    • Testing of technology

    Gonzalo Pulka

    Textile Engineer

    Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Product

    Bio-pigment for screenprinting

    • Wholesaler
    • Circular Economy
    • Distribution Partner
    • Advanced & new Materials

    Gonzalo Pulka

    Textile Engineer

    Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Product

    tailor-made enzymes

    • Space
    • Energy
    • Medtech
    • Defence
    • Importer
    • Microtechnology
    • Circular Economy
    • Distribution Partner
    • Biotech and Lifescience
    • Advanced & new Materials

    Maria Urbano

    CEO

    Madrid, Spain