Pegasus Materials Unveils Bio-Based Specialty Materials for Electronics, Aerospace, and 3D Printing
Pegasus Materials, a high-performance materials company at the intersection of chemistry, material science, and biomanufacturing, has announced the launch of its first two bio-based materials and the expansion of its Seed funding round. The new investment comes from venture studio Ferment and existing investor LIOF, joining prior contributions from Fibrant BV. These funds will accelerate the commercial scale-up of Pegasus Materials’ innovative products for electronics, data centers, and aerospace applications.
Founded by Richard Pieters and Chris Schröder, both of whom bring extensive experience in materials science and biology, Pegasus Materials develops next-generation materials that combine the versatility of biological design with industrial chemistry techniques. By leveraging bio-based chemical building blocks, the company creates materials that meet the exacting performance standards of demanding industries, while also reducing environmental impact through renewable sourcing and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our customers are constantly pushing the limits of what materials can achieve—whether it’s producing smaller parts, withstanding extreme temperatures, or handling mechanical stress,” said Richard Pieters, Co-Founder and CEO of Pegasus Materials. “By integrating bio-based chemistries with advanced material science, we can meet unique performance specifications and simultaneously offer a smaller environmental footprint.”
Pegasus Materials’ first products target improvements in electronics manufacturing and 3D printing. Virela-X001 is a bio-based, high-heat polyamide designed to enhance electronic connector production. It features high flow for precise molding, ultra-low moisture uptake to reduce warping and blistering, and better electrical properties for higher yields. Connector manufacturers are currently evaluating Virela-X001 for USB-C interconnects and DDR memory connectors used in data center servers.
The second material, Virela-X002, is a partially bio-based polyimide engineered for industrial 3D printing. It provides exceptional isotropic strength—equally strong in all directions—along with high heat tolerance, enabling the production of durable, lightweight components. Pegasus Materials is collaborating with aerospace and defense partners to explore the material’s application in aircraft components, where strength, heat resistance, and weight reduction are critical.
Brian Brazeau, Partner at Ferment, highlighted the potential of Pegasus Materials’ approach: “This company demonstrates how biology can add enormous value when applied to the toughest materials challenges. By starting with clear customer goals—such as faster data transfer or lower manufacturing defect rates—and combining biotechnology with chemistry and machine learning, Pegasus Materials achieves high performance efficiently and sustainably. Their model leverages existing industry assets, allowing for rapid scaling.”
Jeffrey Lutje Spelberg, investment manager at LIOF, added: “We’re thrilled to see Ferment join our investor consortium. With Ferment’s expertise in industrial biotechnology and Fibrant’s deep knowledge of materials, Pegasus Materials is well-positioned for success, both locally in Limburg and globally.”
Based at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, The Netherlands, Pegasus Materials collaborates with established polymerization and compounding partners to accelerate the market introduction of its materials. With Ferment’s support, the company plans to expand customer qualification programs, transition from pilot to commercial production, and advance the next wave of high-performance materials.
Pegasus Materials’ approach represents a shift in material innovation, combining the flexibility of biological systems with traditional chemical methods to create materials that meet stringent industrial requirements. By using renewable feedstocks, the company reduces the carbon footprint of its products while maintaining or improving performance characteristics.
“Our mission is to solve problems that conventional materials cannot,” said Chris Schröder, Co-Founder and CTO. “By starting with bio-based building blocks and leveraging our deep expertise in chemistry and materials science, we can design products that not only meet performance requirements but also support sustainability goals.”
The launch of Virela-X001 and Virela-X002 marks the company’s first commercial offerings, but Pegasus Materials is already planning additional products for a range of high-performance applications. Future materials are expected to address the unique challenges of data centers, aerospace, defense, and other industries where performance and environmental considerations intersect.
Virela-X001 addresses a critical need in electronics manufacturing: as devices become smaller and more complex, the performance and reliability of connectors and components are increasingly important. The material’s combination of high flow and low moisture uptake enables manufacturers to produce thinner, more precise parts without compromising electrical performance or yield.
Meanwhile, Virela-X002 targets the growing industrial 3D printing market, where conventional thermoplastics and polyimides often struggle with heat resistance and isotropic mechanical properties. By providing uniform strength in all directions and high thermal stability, Virela-X002 allows engineers to print lightweight, durable components suitable for aerospace and other demanding applications.
The company’s investors see significant growth potential. Ferment, a venture studio specializing in industrial biotechnology, brings strategic insight into scaling bio-based technologies, while LIOF and Fibrant contribute expertise in materials science and regional development. This combination of financial support and technical guidance is expected to help Pegasus Materials accelerate both commercialization and innovation.
“Our focus is on marrying high-performance material design with sustainable production methods,” Pieters added. “We want to enable industries to achieve their technical goals while reducing the environmental impact of the materials they use. The launch of Virela-X001 and Virela-X002 is just the beginning.”
With its headquarters on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Pegasus Materials is uniquely positioned to leverage existing infrastructure for polymerization and compounding. This allows the company to move quickly from pilot production to commercial scale, ensuring that new materials reach market faster than traditional development timelines would allow.
The company’s debut products and expanded funding round signal an important milestone for Pegasus Materials and highlight the increasing role of bio-based innovations in high-performance industries. By combining biotechnology, chemistry, and material science, the company is setting a new standard for sustainable, high-performance materials.
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