Zurich, Switzerland — We are excited to share a striking new time-lapse video capturing four weeks of construction at our first specialized facility in Solothurn, condensed into just 15 seconds.

The video highlights the speed and scale of progress achieved on-site, showing how quickly the project has developed when planning, engineering, and teamwork come together. It offers a clear and compelling view of the effort behind building a cutting-edge recycling facility and marks an important milestone on our journey toward full operation.

This time-lapse is a quick but powerful glimpse behind the scenes — the perfect way to see how much can be accomplished in a short time.

Zurich, Switzerland — Grensol has been selected to participate in the prestigious SPRIN-D Tech Metal Transformation Challenge in Germany. The program aims to improve the onshore recovery of critical metals from waste streams such as smartphones in an economically and ecologically sustainable manner.

Under this initiative, Grensol will apply its Minerals and Photolysis technologies to end-of-life smartphones to recover critical metals on a laboratory scale. The project will be carried out in partnership with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), ETH Zurich, and HEIG-VD, combining expertise in materials science, engineering, and advanced recycling processes.

This participation marks an important step for Grensol in expanding its technology applications beyond automotive waste and demonstrates the company’s commitment to enabling circular material flows across different industries.

Zurich, Switzerland — Grensol is proud to announce that it had been nominated for the Newcomer Prize of Canton Solothurn 2026. The nomination recognized the company’s innovative approach to recycling and its growing impact within the region.

As part of the award program, Grensol presented its work and vision at a public event on January 8, pitching in front of approximately 500 guests. This was a valuable opportunity to share Grensol’s mission and progress with a broad audience and to highlight the importance of sustainable material recovery.

We were grateful for the recognition and appreciated the opportunity to present our project to the Solothurn community.

Zurich, Switzerland — Grensol is proud to announce that it was selected among the top five finalists at the Ypsomed Innovation Award 2026. The award recognizes innovative technologies with strong industrial and sustainability impact.

At the final event, Marco Ziegler, CTO of Grensol, presented the company’s approach to recycling automotive waste, focusing on how complex and previously difficult-to-recycle waste streams can be converted into valuable resources for reuse in industrial applications.

“Congratulations to Grensol for making it to the finals of the Ypsomed Innovation Award 2026,” said Ypsomed in its official statement, highlighting the relevance of Grensol’s solution for advancing circular economy practices.

Being named a finalist reflects Grensol’s commitment to developing scalable recycling technologies that reduce waste, recover critical materials, and support more sustainable supply chains in the automotive sector.

Zurich, Switzerland — We are proud to be ranked among the Top100 Swiss Startups of 2025! Being part of this ranking highlights the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit driving Switzerland’s startup ecosystem. A big thank you to our team, partners, and supporters who made this achievement possible!

A big appreciation to the entire Venturelab team for the organization of this prestigious award, alongside their partners UBS, SIX, Etat de Vaud, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, HANDELSZEITUNG, IFJ-Startup Support, Kanton Zürich, PME, startup.ch, Startupticker.ch, Venture Kick, Venturelab and Walder Wyss Ltd.

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.