Cleantech startup Proklean bags funding for chemical-free industrial operations

Proklean’s probiotic technology reduces chemical usage in tanneries

Indian biotech startup Proklean announced today it raised US$550,000 from sustainability and cleantech fund Infuse Ventures. The company earlier raised US$6 million from Chennai Angels and US-based SCD Probiotics.

Proklean uses probiotic technology to make biodegradable, natural, and non-toxic products for leather processing, textile processing, and household cleaning industries to replace or reduce the use of chemicals. It claims the products save water, processing time, and in some cases, even energy. Plus, it’s completely biodegradable.

“Proklean has developed a technology platform with wide-ranging applications across industries,” says Kunal Upadhyay, CEO, Infuse Ventures. “Environmental concerns from industrial effluents are on the rise and we have seen very few innovative solutions and products to solve this problem. Proklean’s range of products addresses this major pain,” he added.

The company serves 13 countries including the US, South Africa, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Thailand, and China. Some of its clients include Raymond, Welspun, Kapoor Industries, and JK Mills, among others.

The fresh funding will be used for research and development on increasing the product range and expanding to other countries.

Proklean was founded in 2009 by Sivaram Pillai. Previously, he was the CEO of SCD Probiotics, USA, and head of the bio-products business at the Murugappa Group, India.

Infuse Ventures has been actively investing in the cleantech sector. Its investments include energy management startup Ecolibrium Energy, thermal energy storage startup Tessol, renewable energy services startup REConnect, solar pumping startup Surya PowerMagic, and geothermal HVAC provider GIBSS, among others.