Melazyme secures $2 million seed

Melazyme said on May 14 that it had raised $2 million in seed funding to expand its precision-fermentation platform for specialty biomolecules. The U.S. startup said SeaX Ventures led the round, with Stellaris Venture Partners and Plug and Play Ventures also participating. (beamstart.com) The company was founded in 2025 and is targeting early commercial work in cosmetics and other ingredient markets. Reports citing the company said the money will go toward platform development, production scale-up and initial deployment of its products. ### Who is behind Melazyme? Melazyme was founded in 2025 by Perumal Gandhi and Bonney Oommen, according to company reports and coverage of the financing. (beamstart.com) Gandhi is identified as a co-founder of Perfect Day, while Oommen previously served as chief product and strategy officer at Perfect Day, a company known for precision fermentation. SeaX Ventures managing partner Kid Parchariyanon said in comments reported by Green Queen that the two founders brought experience “building and scaling precision fermentation companies.” Parchariyanon said Melazyme was pursuing molecules where fermentation could deliver differentiated value across more than one market. (beamstart.com) ### What does the company say it makes? Melazyme’s website says the company produces melanin through microbial fermentation for water remediation, metal extraction and cosmetics applications. The site describes melanin as expensive to extract and says its process is designed to produce a scalable and higher-purity alternative. (greenqueen.com.hk) Reports on the seed round said the company is also developing specialty proteins including brazzein, a sweet protein. BEAMSTART and Green Queen both described Melazyme’s platform as using engineered microbes to produce high-value biomolecules rather than commodity ingredients. (greenqueen.com.hk) ### Why are cosmetics showing up first? The Asset reported that Melazyme’s near-term commercial activity is centered on cosmetics, where melanin’s ultraviolet-protection and pigmentation properties are drawing engagement from global manufacturers. BEAMSTART similarly said the company’s initial focus includes melanin for UV protection in cosmetics. (melazyme.com) Green Queen reported that melanin is a central target because of its potential use in cosmetics, UV protection, coatings and environmental remediation. The company says on its website that its melanin can be used as a natural, biodegradable alternative in UV-blocking applications and as a hair-color ingredient. (beamstart.com) ### Who invested in the round? SeaX Ventures was named as the lead investor in the seed financing, according to multiple reports published on May 14. Stellaris Venture Partners and Plug and Play Ventures were also listed as participants. Crunchbase’s funding-round page likewise lists three investors and identifies SeaX Ventures as the lead. (theasset.com) SeaX Ventures describes itself on its investor profile as a fund investing globally in early-stage companies focused on “exponential” technologies. The profile lists biotech among its investment sectors and says the firm can act as a lead investor. (greenqueen.com.hk) ### What will the new money be used for? The company said the proceeds will support platform development, production scale-up and early commercial deployment across its target molecules, according to The Asset and Green Queen. Those reports did not disclose a valuation or additional financing terms. BEAMSTART reported that initial commercial tests are planned for 2026 in the United States. (beamstart.com) The company’s website invites partners in cosmetics, mining and agriculture to contact Melazyme about commercial applications, indicating the next step is partner-led testing and deployment rather than a consumer launch. That is an inference from the company’s stated applications and outreach language. (beamstart.com) May 14 was the date attached to multiple reports on the financing, and Melazyme’s next disclosed milestone is early commercial deployment tied to its melanin and specialty-protein platform. The company has not publicly set a launch date for a product sale, but reports say near-term pilots are aimed at cosmetics manufacturers and other commercial partners in 2026. (theasset.com) (beamstart.com)