Nantes, November 3, 2025
Nantes-based startup CGREEN, which specializes in low-carbon bio-based carbon fiber, has announced that it has completed its first round of fundraising, notably with Socomore Ventures, Pays de la Loire Participation, the ABAB business angel association, IRT Jules Verne, and entrepreneur Alexandre Hamlyn (President of Artemis Composites and co-founder of Coriolis Composites). This operation marks a decisive step for CGREEN: it will enable the establishment of a pilot carbonization line and the preparation for the industrialization of a technology already highly regarded by industrial players committed to reducing their environmental impact.
An industry-driven innovation resulting from 10 years of research
Founded in January 2025 by Gaëlle Guyader and Céline Largeau, CGREEN is the result of ten years of research and development carried out as part of the FORCE project, led by IRT Jules Verne and supported by Forvia. In 2023, the idea for the startup had already been conceived by the two founders. It was the HEC Challenge+ Program that enabled them to build the project, confirm its economic viability, and validate their initial intuition: creating a startup was the right choice for adding value. The company is now developing a new generation of bio-based carbon fiber from cellulose, a local, renewable, and abundant resource. This innovation reduces the CO₂ impact of conventional (petro-based) carbon fiber by a factor of three, while offering mechanical performance equivalent to standard carbon fibers.
Towards the industrialization of a French industry
Thanks to this fundraising, CGREEN will deploy its pilot carbonization line in Carquefou, within Icam, a long- standing partner in the project. The goal is to approve the technology on a pilot scale and lay the foundations for a French bio-based carbon fiber industry capable of meeting the growing demand from many industries. This development is fully in line with the industrial sovereignty and relocation challenges supported by France 2030. By offering a local, low-carbon, and bio-based alternative, CGREEN aims to reduce European dependence on these strategic imports and strengthen France's industrial autonomy in a key material for the aerospace, automotive, energy, and defense markets. The startup was also selected by Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, which chose CGREEN for its industrial startup support program. 2 "This fundraising is a deeply symbolic step: it marks the culmination of ten years of research and paves the way for industrialization. I am extremely grateful to our investors and partners for their trust and support; we share the same desire to build a carbon fiber industry in France that is sustainable, innovative, and strategic for European sovereignty," said Gaëlle Guyader, co-founder and CEO of CGREEN. "Born out of the FORCE project, an extraordinary technical and human adventure that I had the opportunity to lead, CGREEN illustrates the potential of French research. I have always believed in this technology's ability to make the leap to industrialization, and seeing this project enter the pilot phase today with the support of our investors and partners is a source of immense pride. Thank you to everyone who made this milestone possible." Céline Largeau, co-founder and CTO of CGREEN
