Deeptech · CleanTech · Seed 2026

SO SPONGE

Sustainable humidity regulation,
for closed and semi-closed environments.
Investment memo — Seed round

Every year, 1 million tons of disposable desiccants end up in the bin, and industrial dehumidifiers consume 3× more energy than necessary.

Humidity is a universal problem: failures in outdoor electronics, goods destroyed in containers, degraded buildings, runaway energy bills. No one delivers a sustainable answer today.

Coming out of IFPEN / UCBL public research and under exclusive license, So Sponge brings answers across two ranges: a passive product range in early commercial rollout (33 signed customers, 299 leads), and an active dehumidifier range 3× more energy-efficient, fluorinated-gas-free, currently in technical pilot phase.

Investing now means entering at the inflection point.
A word from the founder
Guirec Courbon · ~1 min
BP horizon: 2026–2030 Targets: Deeptech seed funds, climate angels, CVCs Date: April 2026
Why now

Five reasons to invest today

1

Before the first AirSwing licensing deals

The second revenue engine (OEM licensing) will re-rate the company at the first signature. This seed window is the last one at the current valuation.

2

Passive traction already proven

33 signed customers, 299 qualified leads, first invoiced revenue. Commercial risk is addressed — this is no longer a technology bet.

3

R&D funded by public research

BPI i-Lab grant (€375k) and IFPEN partnership cover R&D costs. This round funds only commercialization and industrialization.

4

Unique regulatory tailwind

F-Gas Regulation (2024), ESPR, CSRD. Fluorinated-gas-free alternatives become mandatory over 5 years — So Sponge is ready.

5

IP locked, ecosystem in place

Exclusive worldwide Pulsalys license + Axens (IFPEN) material sourcing + production partners. 0% IP risk, 0% supply-chain risk.

Two engines

One material platform, two growth engines

Engine 1 · Passive · De-risking

Air Sponge — The durable replacement for disposable desiccants

So Sponge adsorbs moisture and releases it back in a loop, with no energy and no maintenance. One piece replaces years of disposable desiccants (silica gel, CaCl₂ — 1 Mt/yr, 0% recyclable).

Sub-ranges:

AS-C — Anti-condensation tapes for urban and logistics infrastructure: EV chargers, maritime containers, outdoor technical cabinets.
AS-B — Anti-condensation stickers for embedded electronics: IP67 sensors, outdoor IoT, embedded enclosures.

Signed customers
33
Qualified leads (8 ICPs)
299
Rev. 2030
€2,827k
Engine 2 · Active · Upside

AirSwing — The dehumidifier ÷3 energy, fluorinated-gas-free

Dividing industrial dehumidifier energy consumption by 3, with no fluorinated gases. Compliant with EU F-Gas Regulation by design.

Technology: an adsorption/desorption cycle on our material replaces mechanical compression. Result: 1,000 kJ/kg water extracted vs 3,200 kJ/kg in conventional technology.

IP secured: material patent extension in progress · exclusive worldwide Pulsalys license · AirSwing process patent filing in progress.

Pure OEM / licensing model: €50k/OEM/yr fixed license (100% margin) + recurring consumable material + royalties. Axel One pilot underway. BPI i-Lab €375k grant secured.

EU TAM
€210M
Energy reduction
÷3
Rev. 2030
€2,846k
Business plan

Consolidated financial trajectory

Trajectory de-risked by the passive engine, re-rated by the active engine licensing deals from 2027 onward.

Indicator20262027202820292030
Revenue (k€)846141,6433,3405,672
Gross margin (%)52%70%57%56%55%
EBITDA (k€)(340)(97)+284+938+1,978
EBITDA margin (%)17%28%35%
Headcount (FTE)4581011
Breakeven2028
Ecosystem

An industrial ecosystem already in place

IFP Investissements (IFPEN)
Historical investor since 2021. R&D co-developed with IFPEN.
Axens (IFPEN subsidiary)
Secured raw-material sourcing via IFPEN. Validated supply chain.
Pulsalys (SATT Lyon)
Exclusive worldwide license of the patented material. 0% IP risk.
Yiacor / CGP Coating
Industrial series production of the passive range. Validated capacity.
BPI i-Lab
€375k deeptech R&D grant (2024). Public validation signal.
Axel One
AirSwing industrial pilot underway on the Lyon chemistry platform.
Team

Founding team

Guirec Courbon
CEO · Co-founder
Guirec Courbon
Entrepreneur. In charge of Strategy, Fundraising & Operations. International experience.
Elsa Jolimaitre
CTO · Co-founder
Elsa Jolimaitre
IFPEN researcher, porous-materials expert. Co-inventor of the material patent.
Melaz Tayakout
CSO · Scientific advisor
Melaz Tayakout
Full professor, University of Lyon (UCBL), co-inventor of the material patent. 30 years of research in porous materials and chemical engineering.
Round

Round terms

Seed round

Target equity raise€670k
Pre-money€4.0M
Dilution~14%
Minimum ticket€50k
InstrumentOrdinary shares
Closing31/12/2026
Total financing~€950k
Non-dilutive financing (leverage)+ €280k

Co-investment welcome: deeptech seed funds, business angels, BA networks, Bpifrance Amorçage.

Receive the detailed memo

Full document + data room after a first call.
✓ Request received. Guirec will get back to you within 24 business hours.
CONTACT

So Sponge SAS — Lyon, France

Guirec Courbon — CEO & Co-founder

guirec@sosponge.com · sosponge.com

Confidential — Do not distribute without authorization · April 2026