Capital increase for the innovative Neapolitan startup active in the development of industrial bio-ingredients.

ROELMI HPC and the Italbiotec Consortium are the new strategic partners. Volano and PZC Lex are the advisors for the transaction.

Isuschem S.r.l., an innovative startup specializing in the development and production of innovative bio-ingredients for industrial use, announces the completion of a capital increase subscribed to by ROELMI HPC and Consorzio Italbiotec.

The transaction marks the beginning of a new phase for the company: Isuschem now enters the markets as a more mature, more dynamic company, open to strategic partners capable of supporting its industrial, commercial, and technological growth within the circular bioeconomy.

Headquartered in Naples, Isuschem was founded through a collaboration between Italian Printing Inks, a Campania-based paint manufacturer, and the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Naples Federico II.

Led by CEO Vincenzo Benessere, who holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences, Isuschem has developed a patented process for converting fatty acids derived from residual oils, waste oils, or non-food crops into high-value-added ingredients and intermediates.
Isuschem’s patented technology uses reusable and cost-effective zinc- or iron-based catalysts and is distinguished by a Zero-VOC process applicable to various industrial sectors, including cosmetics, animal feed, coatings, and bio-lubricants.

The process is Zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) and enables the development of high-value-added ingredients and intermediates for various industrial sectors.

Current applications, all of which are covered by patents, include:

  • Cosmetics: bio-ingredients with a high capacity to deliver hard-to-dissolve raw materials in formulations for sunscreens, emollients, soothing agents, and pigment binders for skincare and haircare products that are resistant to discoloration.
  • Feed: a glycerin-based functional additive for gut health in broiler chickens.
  • Coatings: thinners, coalescents, and solvents with a high capacity to dissolve synthetic resins and excellent viscosity-reducing properties.
  • Lubricants: high-viscosity products that are oxidation-resistant, biodegradable, and non-toxic in water.

A New Industrial Phase

The entry of ROELMI HPC—a benefit corporation—and the Italbiotec Consortium into the company’s capital strengthens Isuschem’s position as a technological platform for converting renewable and residual raw materials into high-value-added ingredients.

The new partners bring complementary expertise:

  • ROELMI HPC, an expert in R&D and the production of active and functional ingredients for the cosmetics and nutraceutical markets, strengthens the company’s connection to the health and wellness market.
  • The Italbiotec Consortium, a technology and development partner, consolidates the company’s path toward innovation, grant management, and competitive growth.

Volano, together with partner Giovanni De Caro, Director Benedetto Di Martino, and Manager Antonio Donadio, handled the economic and financial aspects and supported the team in negotiating the terms of the transaction. Attorney Francesco Pezcoller of PZC, assisted by Alessandro Suppa, served as deal counsel, supporting the founding partners and investors in structuring the transaction from a corporate law perspective.

The investment by ROELMI HPC and Consorzio Italbiotec is the third in a series that began in July 2023 and continued in February 2024 with a total investment of 360,000 euros by Terra Next, the bioeconomy-focused accelerator of CDP Venture Capital SGR’s National Accelerator Network, promoted in partnership with the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and managed by Cariplo Factory.

The next goal: scaling up production capacity

The capital increase represents a preparatory step toward a broader phase of industrial growth.

Isuschem is currently engaged in a Series A funding round, aimed at building a new production facility and strengthening the company’s structure.

The goal is to increase production capacity, creating the conditions to more effectively serve the markets for cosmetics, coatings, lubricants, and functional industrial applications.

“Following this transaction, Isuschem will be more mature, more dynamic, and ready to take on the challenges of the circular bioeconomy. We have developed proprietary, patented technology with concrete industrial applications. Today, our goal is to transform this platform into a more structured production operation, capable of growing alongside industrial, technological, and financial partners aligned with our vision,” states Vincenzo Benessere, CEO of Isuschem.

“This investment strengthens our ability to offer increasingly innovative ingredients to our customers, expanding our pool of expertise, technologies, and know-how. We are convinced that the merger of our organizations will create new opportunities for growth, accelerate innovation, and enable us to respond even more effectively to the needs of a constantly evolving market,” states Rosella Malanchin, CEO of ROELMI HPC – Benefit Corporation.

“Thanks to this investment, the Italbiotec Consortium completes its support network for centers of excellence in Italy, which are capable of leveraging research results and transforming them into successful business ventures,” said Maurizio Bettiga, Chief Innovation Officer at the Italbiotec Consortium.