CCompany · Energy & Climate
Calpech
Calpech is a University of Alicante spin-off that has patented a process converting alpechín (olive mill wastewater) and other agro-industrial waste into iron nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon. The nanoparticles are used in environmental and energy applications such as biogas production/desulfurization, heavy-metal and pollutant removal from water and soil, and aquifer denitrification. Founded in 2021, based in San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante), it holds a European patent and won 3rd prize in the Startup category of the Santander X Spain Awards 2025.
Founded
2021
Founders
3
News
2
Rounds
1
Investors
1
SectorsDeeptech & Hardware, Energy & Climate, Foodtech & Agtech
Start-up MapEnergy & Climate › Waste valorisation & biomaterials
Profile updated 31 Jul 2026
Founders
A
Andrés Fullana
Co-founder (Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante)
B
Blanca Calderón
Co-founder
—
Y
Yuriy Budyk
Co-founder & CEO
Global models 5
LLanzaTech
United States · lanzatech.com ↗
Deep-tech circular economy company converting waste (carbon-rich gases) into valuable materials via patented biological/chemical processes, closely mirroring Calpech's waste-to-nanomaterial model.
$1.0BComparable
TTwelve
United States · www.twelve.co ↗
Deep-tech company transforming a waste stream (CO2) into valuable chemicals and materials through patented electrochemical technology, similar circular-economy-to-materials approach.
$900MComparable
SSolugen
United States · www.solugen.com ↗
Bioengineering startup turning low-value feedstocks into specialty chemicals via patented processes, matching Calpech's model of proprietary tech converting waste into higher-value industrial materials.
$656MComparable
EEcovative
United States · ecovative.com ↗
Deep-tech materials company using patented biological processes (mycelium) to turn low-cost organic inputs into sustainable materials, akin to Calpech's nanoparticle-from-waste process.
$184MComparable
OOrigin Materials
United States · www.originmaterials.com ↗
Materials science company converting waste biomass into sustainable chemicals and materials via patented technology, directly comparable to Calpech's circular-economy nanomaterial production.
$61.6MComparable
Investors 1
Funding rounds 1
News & media 2
| Published | Article |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 |
Julio consolida un verano récord en inversión: 672,85M€ en 38 operaciones ↗
El Referente
|
| 2026-07-28 |
Calpech capta 400.000 euros para industrializar sus nanomateriales ↗
El Referente
|