Aplantex raises $5M bridge round to advance production-scale green biotechnology for crop inputs

Montreal-based Aplantex closed a $5 million bridge financing round, exceeding its original target by more than $2 million, as the Quebec green biotechnology company prepares to transition from research-stage operations to an industrial-grade pilot plant ahead of a larger Series A.

The round was led by François Ravenelle, a PhD-credentialed investor and Aplantex board member, with continued participation from Investissement Québec through its Impulsion Fund. The oversubscribed close reflects growing confidence in the company’s strategic direction, said CEO Patrick Charest: “Ongoing R&D projects are on track to meet the requirements of our current national and international clients, and exciting new initiatives are designed to improve the efficiency of Aplantex’s unique green biotechnology process.”

Aplantex’s core technology uses proprietary photosynthetic plant replicators — engineered plant biomass grown continuously in a controlled, warehouse-scale environment — to produce high-value plant-based active ingredients. The platform is designed to serve the cosmetics, food additives, and nutritional health sectors, with the company stating it has the potential to supply up to 90% of plant-based active compounds used across those industries. Production occurs entirely in a controlled environment rather than through conventional field agriculture, insulating output from weather, pest, and supply chain variability.

Aplantex has active R&D agreements with existing clients, including Symrise, the German fragrance and nutrition company. The bridge capital will fund the expansion of the company’s innovation center to include an industrial-grade pilot plant — a key milestone in the shift from laboratory to production scale. A CAD$20 million Series A is targeted for Q3 2026 to fund construction of the pilot facility and the design of the company’s first large-scale commercial plant.