Biotech Funding Alert Investment

Epic Angels Invests In Mexico Startup BioPlaster Research

• ByStartupStory     |    December 1, 2025

All-Female Investor Collective Makes First Mexico Bet On Sargassum-Based Bioplastics

Singapore-based Epic Angels, the world’s largest all-female angel investment network with over 1,000 members across APAC and LATAM, has made its inaugural investment in Mexico through BioPlaster Research—a startup transforming invasive sargassum algae into certified biodegradable packaging materials. Announced on December 1, 2025, the undisclosed investment accelerates BioPlaster’s scaling amid surging global demand for plastic alternatives, aligning with Epic’s mission to back high-impact women-led ventures in emerging markets.

Sargassum Innovation Tackles Caribbean Environmental Crisis

BioPlaster addresses the sargassum crisis plaguing Mexico’s Caribbean coast, where massive seaweed influxes—up to 30 million tons annually—smother beaches, release toxic gases during decomposition, and devastate tourism worth $5 billion yearly. Founders engineer high-performance bioplastics from alginate and cellulose extracts, creating compostable films, bags, foams, and protective packaging that degrade in 3 weeks to 5 months under home conditions (ISO 14855 certified).

Products outperform traditional options:

• GreenShell foam cushions fragile goods during shipping, matching styrofoam density while being 100% compostable.

• Flexible films and reusable bags rival polyethylene strength but eliminate microplastics, with 70% lower production energy than petroleum plastics.

• No pesticides, irrigation, or arable land required—leveraging waste biomass that would otherwise pollute.

Compared to paper kraft (fragile, 6-month degradation) or nonwoven reusables (400+ year breakdown from fossil fuels), BioPlaster delivers operational viability: similar costs to kraft, scaling to compete with virgin plastic.

Plug-And-Play Sustainability For Enterprises

BioPlaster’s platform offers end-to-end optimization: material audits, custom formulations, supply chain integration, and lifecycle tracking. Clients switch seamlessly—replacing single-use plastics without retooling—while meeting tightening regulations like Mexico’s 2025 plastic bans and EU single-use directives.

Early adopters in food delivery, e-commerce, and consumer goods report 50% waste reduction and compliance gains. The startup’s closed-loop model recycles sargassum from Quintana Roo beaches, creating 200+ jobs in collection/processing while restoring ecosystems.

Prior to Epic, BioPlaster raised $650K in a May 2025 bridge round, fueling pilot production at 10 tons/month capacity. Revenue projections target $5 million by 2027 via B2B contracts, with IP on extraction patents protecting scalability.

Epic Angels’ LATAM Expansion And Female-Led Momentum

Epic Angels, founded by Maaike Doyer, democratizes venture access for women—lowering check sizes to $5K while pooling for $250K+ deals. With 50+ investments since 2022 (APAC focus), Mexico marks strategic diversification into LATAM’s $100 billion sustainability market.

Doyer praised BioPlaster’s “regenerative innovation solving dual crises—plastic pollution and sargassum overload—led by visionary female founders.” The collective’s portfolio yields 3x returns on exits like Alice (unicorn fintech), emphasizing impact alongside alpha.

BioPlaster’s all-female leadership exemplifies Epic’s thesis: women founders secure 2.5% VC funding yet outperform by 20% on ROI. Operations in Cancún blend biotech with circular economy, exporting to U.S./Europe amid sargassum’s Atlantic spread.

Market Tailwinds And Roadmap Ahead

Global bioplastics hit $15 billion in 2025 (18% CAGR to $50 billion by 2030), driven by bans covering 80 countries and corporate net-zero pledges. Sargassum’s abundance—free feedstock—yields 40% margins at scale, versus corn-based PLA’s food competition.

Challenges: seasonal supply (peaks May-October), extraction efficiency, and certification scaling. BioPlaster mitigates via partnerships with Yucatán cooperatives and Dutch tech for alginates.

Next: 50-ton/month factory by Q2 2026, U.S. pilots with Amazon/e-commerce, and B2C bags via retailers. Epic accelerates via network intros to Unilever, Nestlé, and impact funds.

This investment spotlights LATAM’s biotech surge—Mexico leads with 500+ cleantech startups—bridging waste-to-wealth while empowering women investors. BioPlaster positions sargassum not as curse, but canvas for tomorrow’s materials revolution.

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