Bristol-based biomaterials company Ponda is seeking to scale up its plant-based insulation product, BioPuff, made from fibres extracted from wetland-grown bulrush. The company has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Republic, aiming to raise a minimum of €230,000 (£200,000) with no stated cap. This comes after a €2 million seed round in November 2025, bringing total funding to €5.6 million including grants and awards.

BioPuff has already been adopted by brands such as Ahluwalia, Berghaus, Sheep Inc., and Stella McCartney, and Ponda has garnered industry recognition from organizations such as H&M Foundation and Parley for the Oceans. The crowdfunding round is intended to support manufacturing scale-up and go-to-market execution as the company aims to provide a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic fills in fashion and accessories. Co-founder and CEO Julian Ellis-Brown emphasizes the importance of not only developing new materials but also creating a system that connects product performance with wetland restoration.