Zurich, Switzerland — Grensol, a pioneering Swiss startup developing sustainable solutions to recycle complex waste streams currently incinerated, is proud to announce the successful closing of its seed equity financing round totalling CHF 1.8 million. 

The new funding marks a critical milestone in the company’s mission to transform how materials are recovered from challenging waste streams, starting with automotive shredder residue (ASR). Proceeds will fund the construction and the scale-up of Grensol’s first operational site in Biberist (Canton Solothurn, Switzerland), as well as ongoing R&D and expansion of use cases for its proprietary resource recovery technologies. 

“We are thrilled to welcome our new investors” said Rajiv Singhal, CEO of Grensol. “This seed round is a major step forward for us. We are excited to work with partners who not only share our mission, but also bring significant experience in supporting new green-tech ventures and driving sustainable innovation at scale.” 

Among Grensol’s shareholders we welcome new angel investors and the following institutional investors: 

• Buildify Earth – A Swiss investment firm providing financing solutions that address the climate and resource challenges, with the goal of creating a positive impact on the built environment. It was founded in June 2023 by Switzerland Innovation Park Central, private investors and the Zuger Kantonalbank. 

• Kickfund – A Swiss venture capital fund investing in Switzerland’s most promising technology startups recognised by the Venture Kick competition. Backed by the Ernst Göhner and Gebert Rüf Foundations, it provides the resources and support needed to scale and create lasting impact. 

• Venture Kick – A widely recognised three-stage funding program that supports Swiss startups with up to CHF 150,000 in initial capital to kick-start their entrepreneurial journey. Grensol participated in 2024 and successfully completed all three stages. Since its inception in 2007, the programme has supported over 1’100 startups. 

• W. A. de Vigier Foundation – A foundation based in Solothurn that has actively supported over 150 startups by providing direct financial support to entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas aiming to build high-performance and growth-oriented businesses in Switzerland. Grensol was awarded the Foundation’s startup prize in 2024. 

The management team – Rajiv Singhal (CEO), Marco Ziegler (CTO), and Marc Ocskay (CFO) – also participated in the round with a significant investment on the same terms as the new shareholders, underscoring their strong commitment to the company’s mission and long-term success. 

Grensol has also secured the support of Berner Kantonalbank as a financing partner to support the development of the Biberist site. Berner Kantonalbank is deeply rooted in the Bern and Solothurn regions, contributing significantly to the sustainable economic development of both cantons. 

Zurich, Switzerland — Grensol is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU). Through its Environmental Technology Fund, BAFU is supporting the development of Grensol’s proprietary technology for recovering metals and minerals from automotive shredder residues (ASR). 

Grensol’s innovative solution plays a key role in reducing CO2 emissions in Switzerland and advancing resource efficiency. This initiative is central to Grensol’s broader mission to revolutionise the recycling of ASR and other similar waste – moving away from the high ecological costs of incineration and landfilling, towards a more circular, lower cost and sustainable solution. 

The recovery of metals and minerals represents the initial step in Grensol’s advanced recycling solution. It’s first facility, currently under construction in Biberist (Canton Solothurn), will produce meaningful quantities of recovered materials for downstream applications such as recycling or cement production.  

“The start of this collaboration with BAFU is a fantastic opportunity for us” said Rajiv Singhal, CEO of Grensol. “Their support will allow us to accelerate the development and commercialisation of our solution – helping divert thousands of tonnes of ASR from landfills and incinerators within just the first few years.” 

This partnership is laying the groundwork for a new standard in waste recovery and circularity in Switzerland and beyond.  

June 23, 2025

Grensol Opens Investment Campaign Through Swisspreneur Partnership

Grensol is thrilled to announce its participation in a high-impact investment campaign led by Swisspreneur, Switzerland’s leading platform for supporting local startups and entrepreneurial innovation.

Launched on June 22^nd, the campaign is part of a major milestone for Grensol: its first fundraising round made accessible to a broader community of supporters. For the first time, everyday investors, especially those who may not meet traditional minimums but are passionate about sustainability and innovation, can now take part in Grensol’s mission to develop cutting-edge solutions for profitably recycling complex waste.

Swisspreneur, a non-profit dedicated to empowering Swiss entrepreneurs through podcasts, events, and curated investment opportunities, is opening its platform to investors and early-stage supporters of Grensol. Grensol’s selection for this campaign reflects its strong commercial potential and commitment to purpose-driven impact.

“We are honored to be welcomed into the Swisspreneur community,” said CEO Rajiv Singhal. “This campaign allows us to grow with the support of community members who believe in our business and our values, and who had not been able to be fully part of what we are doing until now.”

The campaign is live on the Swisspreneur Syndicate Dealflow platform and will run until July 11. Interested investors can learn more and participate by visiting this link.

We look forward to finding new mission-aligned investors and partners with whom we can build the business in the long term!

Grensol is pleased to announce that the authorities in Biberist, Canton Solothurn, have granted us the permit to build and operate our first demonstration plant. This milestone follows a rigorous approval process, which included comprehensive assessments from the Cantonal Office for the Environment and the Office for Economy and Labor. To ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations, Grensol also submitted independent expert reports on energy efficiency measures, noise, vibrations, and dust emissions. “We are delighted that Grensol, another innovative company, is revitalising the Papieri site and contributing to the further development of the circular mobility centre”, says Stefan Hug-Portmann, Mayor of Biberist.

We remain committed to sustainable operations and responsible industrial development in Switzerland and beyond. We extend our sincere gratitude to HIAG, the real estate company redeveloping the industrial site, and to our partners at Hugispirig Architects, Strausak Law and Prodeo Consulting for their invaluable support throughout this process. “This permit marks a significant step forward for Grensol and our mission to drive sustainable innovation. We are proud to establish our first demonstration plant in Biberist, a location with a strong industrial heritage and a promising future in circular mobility. This achievement reflects the dedication of our team and the invaluable support of our partners and local authorities”, says Rajiv Singhal, the CEO of Grensol. 

“We are delighted that another start-up has chosen the canton of Solothurn as the location for its first demonstration plant and is creating new jobs in the field of sustainability with its project”, says Sandra Kolly, the head of the Members of the Governing Council of the Canton of Solothurn and Head of the Department of Construction and Justice of the Canton of Solothurn.

Grensol is proud to announce the release of its new image film, offering a deeper look into our mission and groundbreaking approach to recovering useful raw materials from car recycling waste. This film highlights our commitment to driving innovation, reducing environmental impact, and shaping the future of clean technology. Watch the film now and join us in accelerating the transition to a greener future.

The Sustainability and Climate Protection Award is aimed at companies in Solothurn that implement projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or promote climate protection and sustainability. Grensol is proud to be the winner of this prestigious award in 2025. A big thanks to all our supporters, the jury members, Thomas Vellacott, the CEO of WWF Switzerland, for the inspiring laudatory speech, and Daniel Probst, the Co-President of the Sustainability Network of Solothurn, for his masterful moderation. Grensol also likes to thank the sponsors of the award, namely the Däster-Schild Foundation, the Lottery Fund of the Canton of Solothurn, and the Berner Kantonalbank.

The city of Zurich has chosen Grensol as one of the four winners of its KlimUp programme. We are very grateful for this support.

For the full magazine, press this link.

Swiss Cleantech startup Grensol has received the CHF 150,000 investment from Venture Kick to scale its novel emissions-free plastic waste-to-materials technology.

Grensol will employ the CHF 150’000 from Venture Kick to accelerate the development of its solution for car recycling waste and broaden its reach to other waste streams, contributing to a robust circular economy in Switzerland and beyond.

“Venture Kick has been an incredible partner in our entrepreneurial journey, accelerating our growth with vital early-stage funding, insightful feedback from its well-qualified jury members, and exciting opportunities like the AMAG Sustainability Challenge,” mentioned Rajiv Singhal. “They have truly helped us kickstart our vision and take it to the next level!”

XCHARGE North America and Grensol Group are partnering to reduce waste in EV charging materials by developing recycling solutions for end-of-life equipment along with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Akanksha Gupta and Brajendra Mishra. This collaboration will help extend material lifecycles, lower carbon footprints, and support a circular economy.

A big step toward a cleaner, greener future for electric mobility.

More details in the Financial Times article