PolyGone Systems Raises $4M Seed for Biomimetic Microplastic Capture
PolyGone Systems, a Princeton, NJ-based cleantech company, has raised $4 million in seed funding led by FYRFLY Venture Partners with NJ Innovation matching funds. The startup develops patented, biomimetic filter media and systems that passively capture up to 98% of sub-millimeter microplastics from wastewater using gravity flow at 90% lower cost than alternatives. The capital will fuel commercial deployments of its Poly Pod filtration system and expansion of microplastic lab services.
Industrial Pilots Accelerate Microplastic Removal
The round follows PolyGone's grand opening of the world's first industrial-scale microplastic removal pilot at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) wastewater plant in September 2024. This deployment processes 40 million gallons per day (GPD) for 225,000 residents and removed 520 million microplastic particles. PolyGone also won the U.S. National Cleantech Open 2025 and co-founders received the Edison Patent Emerging Tech Award, signaling rising investor interest in wastewater treatment innovations.
Microplastics pervade wastewater, with billions of sub-mm particles entering oceans annually from treatment plants. A single pilot like ACUA's captures hundreds of millions, highlighting the scale: serving a city-sized population yields 520 million particles trapped. Conventional filters fail on sub-mm sizes or require energy-intensive pumps and chemicals, driving up costs and emissions.
Biomimetic Filters Outperform Conventional Tech
PolyGone's solution mimics plant structures for passive filtration in open channels. The Poly Pod Ver. 1.0 is a modular, portable system handling 10 million GPD autonomously with low maintenance. Proprietary media enables 98% capture efficiency, full recyclability, and upcycling of plastics without chemical emissions—unlike active systems from competitors that rely on membranes or centrifugation.
Its lab services complement hardware: ISO-certified analysis via fluorescence microscopy ($399/sample), FTIR ($699), or Pyrolysis GC-MS ($599). This integrated approach targets municipal utilities like ACUA, industrial users, food & beverage firms, and researchers.
Cleantech Investors Back Scalable Wastewater Tech
FYRFLY Venture Partners, focused on early-stage climate tech, led the round alongside NJ Innovation's match. This validates PolyGone's traction, including three new commercial deployments signed post-pilot. The funding signals growth capital for hardware scaling in a niche where pilots prove viability before widespread adoption.
Microplastics Market Draws Early Capital
Wastewater utilities treat trillions of gallons yearly, with microplastics a growing regulatory focus. PolyGone's ACUA success—720 filters deployed, 520 million particles removed—demonstrates commercial readiness. Awards like Cleantech Open and Earthshot Finalist underscore momentum, though the space remains nascent without major competitor fundings reported recently.
Forbes 30 Under 30 Founders Drive Innovation
Co-founders Nathaniel Banks (CEO) and Yidian Liu (COO), both Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees, spun out from Princeton University in 2021. Their biomimetic expertise, backed by patented tech, positions PolyGone to lead passive filtration. The 11-50 employee team includes domain experts from academia and industry.
2025 Commercial Deployments On Horizon
With total funding now supporting expansion, PolyGone plans Poly Pod commercial launches and Poly Pad for reservoirs/rivers in 2025. Three new pilots are signed, building on Dubai partnership with Wayout and ACUA. Lab services already generate revenue, enabling hardware scale-up.