ACTV Biyoteknoloji Makes Investment Move

ACTV Biotechnology Makes Investment Move ACTV Biotechnology, which produces cosmetic active ingredients through plant biotechnology, has launched an investment round on the crowdfunding platform. As the only company operating in this field in Turkey, ACTV Biotechnology aims to raise TRY 20 million in funding by offering 6% of company shares to investors. The startup's primary objective is to introduce plant root cell technology-derived pharmaceutical active ingredients to the sector alongside cosmetics, and to list on the stock exchange within five years. Using biotechnological methods to develop active ingredients with different biological activities, ACTV Biotechnology has launched an investment round on the crowdfunding platform fonbulucu. The startup, which conducts joint work with BASF Beauty Care Solutions France Sas, a company with EUR 71 billion in turnover and ranked as the world's 84th largest firm, is seeking TRY 20 million in funding by offering 6% of company shares. According to information from ACTV Biotechnology, approximately TRY 4.8 million in the company's balance sheet under capital reserves and special funds will be added to the current capital of TRY 25.2 million together with funds raised following the investment round. Following the investment round, the company will accelerate R&D activities through the revenue model it creates and will distribute regular dividends to shareholders. The startup will provide investors with an additional 20% of shares for investments made via EFT or credit card within 20 business days from the investment round start date of Wednesday, 24 May at 10:00. The investment round will be open to qualified and non-qualified investors until 23 July 2023.

Received EUR 1.1 million support under the Eureka project

To date, using plant cell culture technology, the startup has developed active raw materials with anti-aging, skin-whitening, anti-cellulite and wound-healing activities from different plant species, and is the only company operating in this field in Turkey. In 2015, together with BASF, the startup approved an European Union project and successfully completed the project in 2018. Within the scope of the Eureka project titled "Development of New Dermocosmetic Products Derived from Quince Root Cell (Stem Cell)," the company received EUR 1.1 million in support. ACTV Biotechnology, which has secured support for nine research projects from TÜBİTAK and Eureka combined and conducts research on 24 cosmetic and five pharmaceutical active ingredients, has two 1501 projects continuing with TÜBİTAK approval. ACTV Biotechnology is working to introduce raw materials with different activities to the pharmaceutical sector alongside the cosmetics sector.

Only company using small RNA technology in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

Speaking about the company's strategies and future objectives, ACTV Biotechnology Founder Partner and Board Chairman Dr. Yakup Bakır stated: "Using advanced biotechnological methods, we have prepared nine cosmetic active raw materials for which we have completed all safety and efficacy tests, ready for market launch. We define global-scale companies producing cosmetic (skin and hair care) products as our target market. In line with our business development strategies, we are actively continuing distribution discussions with these companies. Additionally, we have 16 cosmetic and five pharmaceutical active ingredients on which we are conducting R&D work. While our company is the only one operating in this field in Turkey, it is also the only company in the world using small RNA technology together with plant root cells in the production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic active ingredients. With the resources provided from the crowdfunding process, we will first supply machinery and equipment for industrial-scale production, accelerate our sales and marketing activities, and focus on capacity expansion and product diversification processes. At this stage, we want to evaluate exit requests from global companies in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. The field in which we operate is one that has high added value and is open to generating high turnover. Our company's main objective is to ensure full corporate structuring within five years, list on the stock exchange, and reach unicorn level on this journey that we are progressing on together with our investors."