UniSieve develops modular, high-precision membranes that integrate porous zeolitic materials into polymeric membranes to filter specific molecules and ions without using thermal energy. The company sells containerized separation systems and membrane replacement services that can be integrated into existing industrial processes. It is currently focused on CO2 capture and is piloting hydrocarbon separation applications, claiming up to 90% greater energy efficiency versus distillation or amine scrubbing. UniSieve says its manufacturing is scalable and its membranes can be tuned to separate chemicals that differ by fractions of an angstrom. The Zurich-based startup was founded in 2018 by ETH Zürich classmates Samuel Hess and Elia Schneider and is already generating revenue with more than 24 clients, including chemical and energy companies. The company plans to use pilots and expanded operational capacity to scale deployments across heavy industries. UniSieve, founded in 2018 and based in Zurich, develops a proprietary membrane solution for high-efficiency separation in the chemical and energy industries. Its technology can facilitate saving up to 90% of the energy required to purify the world’s most frequent chemical feedstocks, enabling greenhouse gas reductions, recovery of valuable chemicals, and lower operational costs. The company positions its membranes as an enabling technology to increase the sustainability and economic attractiveness of the renewable chemicals market. UniSieve works with customers to challenge state-of-the-art separation technologies and reduce waste. The recent raise of around €3.9 million will be used to establish pilot production and co-finance industrial testing at customers’ chemical sites. The investment is expected to sustain the startup until the closure of sales agreements for full-scale separation units. UniSieve, an ETH spin-off based in Zürich, has developed a patent‑pending membrane technology that enables scalable production of mechanically stable, flexible MOF (metal‑organic framework) membranes. The membranes are designed for integration into standard membrane modules and for separation of various gases and liquids, targeting significant reductions in energy use for industrial separations. The company positions its technology as a way to optimize trennverfahren (separation processes) that account for more than 10% of global energy consumption. UniSieve says its approach enables cost‑ and energy‑efficient separations across industrial applications. Participation in Venture Kick accelerated the development of UniSieve’s business case, helped the team set productive milestones, and structured company planning. Samuel Hess is a co‑founder and CEO of the company.

Total raised

$144M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Apr 2023