Holiferm

Holiferm is a chemical technology company spun-out from the University of Manchester in 2018 by co-founders Dr. Ben Dolman and Dr. James Winterburn. The company was established to commercialize a novel, cost-effective method for manufacturing biosurfactants, which are eco-friendly alternatives to the petrochemical-based surfactants used in a vast range of consumer and industrial products. The foundation of the company stems from PhD research conducted by Dolman under Winterburn's supervision, where they developed a patented semi-continuous fermentation and gravity separation process. This technology significantly lowers production costs by over 50%, making sustainable biosurfactants price-competitive with their fossil-fuel-based counterparts for the first time.

Holiferm's business model centers on producing and supplying these green chemicals to manufacturers of home care, personal care, and industrial products. Clients include consumer goods companies and chemical distributors like Sasol, Biesterfeld, Mix Clean Green, An'Du, and Hitas. The company operates a commercial manufacturing plant in Wallasey with an initial capacity of 1.1 KTA, which is undergoing expansion, and a dedicated R&D facility in Manchester. Revenue is generated through the sale of its biosurfactant products. The company's primary products are sophorolipids, marketed as HoneySurf, which are produced using renewable feedstocks like vegetable oils and sugars through yeast fermentation. Holiferm is also expanding its portfolio to include other biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids and mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) in collaboration with partners like BASF.

The company's journey began with initial grants and network support from UK research councils. A significant milestone was securing its first equity funding from ICOS Capital in 2019. Holiferm has since raised a total of $25.7M over four funding rounds, including a major Series B round of $23.1M in December 2023, led by Rhapsody Venture Partners and Clean Growth Fund. This funding is aimed at scaling up production capacity at its Wallasey plant to 15 KTA and accelerating R&D for new products. Ben Dolman, originally the CEO, transitioned to a board role, with Charles Dimmler appointed as CEO in May 2025 to drive international growth. Richard Lock, an experienced professional from the chemical industry, joined as Managing Director and is now the COO.

Keywords: biosurfactants, green chemicals, sustainable surfactants, fermentation technology, sophorolipids, petrochemical alternatives, yeast fermentation, circular economy, industrial biotechnology, specialty chemicals, personal care ingredients, home care ingredients, rhamnolipids, mannosylerythritol lipids, clean technology, gravity separation, continuous manufacturing, biodegradable ingredients, chemical manufacturing, University of Manchester spin-out