Hydrosome Labs has secured $3.7 million in seed funding to scale its operations, expand sales efforts and continue to innovate. The company's patented process creates Hydrosome H2O ultrafine bubbles to deliver active ingredients to cells more efficiently and completely, for a range of applications including:
- Improving nutrient uptake in skin care,
- Driving more efficient and sustainable processes for precision fermentation,
- Delivering faster, longer-lasting, enhanced hydration in performance drinks and
- Helping plants grow faster and healthier with less fertilizer, among other applications.
Ultrafine Bubbles Afford Unique Properties
As previously reported, Hydrosome Labs' process leverages a common occurrence in water: the formation of bubbles, which creates structures that trap gases. The company has miniaturized these to form ultrafine bubbles that are invisible to the naked eye and that have unique properties.
For example, according to the company:
- They have significantly higher surface area versus bubbles in regular water (1 trillion fit in 1 champagne bubble), making them excellent transporters to cells.
- Products incorporating them have a longer shelf life (up to 18 months or more) than any other ultrafine bubble technology; the closest shelf life in the emerging nanobubble category is four to six months.
- The process is sustainable; it does not add chemicals or consumables and requires little energy to operate.
Ultrafine Bubbles Apply to Multiple Markets
Hydrosome Labs reports it is prioritizing the beauty and fermentation verticals. However, it has projects in the pipeline in agriculture and beverages, with future potential in pharmaceuticals with the ability to better deliver drugs to the body. Nick Jackowetz, Hydrosome Labs’ chief scientist, explains, “We are making changes to the properties of water no one imagined possible. The possible applications are almost limitless.”
Precision fermentation: According to the company, the Hydrosome H2O technology doubles precision fermentation yields and decreases production time, with lower energy and nutrient inputs, lower labor costs, higher efficiencies and no added chemicals. The technology also has the potential to help solve a global industry bottleneck in fermentation capacity and equipment.
Skin care: Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford is reportedly the first brand to use the Hydrosome H2O Technology to help deliver skin care ingredients more effectively into skin. “We’re excited to introduce Hydrosome H2O as the latest technology innovation in our hero product, Youth Activating Melon Serum Advanced Formula,” said Laura Lum, co-president of Meaningful Beauty.
“Hydrosome H2O combines with Meaningful Beauty’s proprietary Melon Leaf Stem Cell Technology to visibly plump, firm and deeply hydrate skin and increase elasticity as it helps protect from environmental aggressors. ... For the first time, it transforms water from a filler to a ‘super-carrier,’ delivering nutrients to hard-to-reach areas with remarkable speed and efficiency,” added Lum.
Gaining Momentum: 94 Deals in the Pipeline, $10M in Total Capital Raised
Paul Gadbut, Hydrosome CEO, said, "2024 marks a pivotal year for the company as we transition out of stealth mode. We anticipate significant growth in 2025, with 94 deals currently in the pipeline valued at over $150 million, including ongoing negotiations with leading Fortune 500 companies in the beauty, food processing and food and beverage sectors. Additionally, the seed round brings our total capital raised to $10 million. This technology represents a triple win — for consumers, manufacturers, and investors," he concluded.
State-awarded $71K Innovation Grant
In relation, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, an economic development arm of state government, awarded a $71,000 grant to Hydrosome Labs through its Illinois Innovation Voucher Program. The grant will allow Hydrosome to further study and improve the fermentation process to improve nutrient and gas delivery to cells. This grant, also designed to further Illinois’ position as an innovation hub, will aim to increase production efficiency in the fermentation space, which can have significant operational and economic impact across various industries that utilize fermentation.
