ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan 31, 2025 – Swiss startup Oxyle has announced a $16m funding round to scale its breakthrough solution to destroy, not just relocate, PFAS from wastewater. This builds on its $3M pre-seed round in 2022, growing support for its mission.
360 Capital led the seed round, that included participation from Axeleo Capital and returning investors Founderful and SOSV.
Industries have faced challenges in PFAS treatment, as existing methods like filtration and adsorption transfer PFAS from water to solid waste streams. The existing processes often require incineration or landfilling, that can lead to potential environmental contamination through air or soil. Some technologies are capable of breaking down PFAS, however, their high energy consumption makes large-scale implementation costly for many organizations.
Oxyle’s technology represents the world’s first economical and permanent solution to PFAS contamination. Oxyle’s system destroys PFAS molecules, achieving over 99% elimination rates while consuming at least 15 times less energy than alternative destruction methods. The system’s three-stage process combines foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and real-time monitoring powered by machine learning – all housed in a modular system that eliminates the need for secondary waste disposal through incineration or landfilling. Whereas traditional solutions require weeks-long lab analysis, Oxyle’s proprietary monitoring system provides instant feedback and continuous treatment optimization.
“Five years ago, Oxyle was two of us founders and one big idea: get rid of forever chemicals from our water. Today, that idea is proven, implemented, and ready to scale. This funding is a game-changer. It gives us what we need to take our technology to the industries and communities that need it most. To our investors, old and new, thank you for joining us on this mission to make clean water a reality for all.” says Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, CEO & co-founder, Oxyle.
The company was co-founded by Fajer Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert at ETH Zurich, where Mushtaq earned her PhD in micro- and nanosystems focused on water remediation – inspired by her experiences with water scarcity in Delhi – while Staufert completed his PhD in mechanical and process engineering. Understanding that water treatment innovations couldn’t come soon enough, they developed a technology to degrade “forever chemicals” in minutes. They knew their breakthrough could change the world, but only if it moved from lab to reality.
In just four years, the duo transformed Oxyle from innovation to implementation. The company has grown to a team of 26, completed over 20 customer projects, and secured prestigious recognition including the Swiss Technology Award, SEIF, and WEF’s Uplink Top Innovators.
The technology’s effectiveness has been proven across multiple applications. In groundwater treatment, PFAS concentrations are reduced from 8,700 ng/l to below 14 ng/l. It achieves 99.8% removal of 11 different PFAS species for soil wash water. It eliminated 98% of short-chain PFAS and reduced trifluoracetic acid (TFA) concentrations by 96% in trials with an industrial customer. Most significantly, in November 2024, Oxyle deployed its first full-scale system in Switzerland, treating 10 cubic meters of contaminated groundwater per hour at less than 1 kWh/m³.
“We are proud to lead the investment in Oxyle, whose pioneering technology addresses the massive global challenge of PFAS pollution,” says Thomas Nivard, partner at 360 Capital. “Unlike traditional methods that merely contain these harmful chemicals, Oxyle’s solution destroys them permanently, setting a new standard for tackling this urgent environmental crisis. This is a game changer. The team’s exceptional commercial and technical momentum has laid a strong foundation for establishing a true technology leader in the coming years.”
The need for Oxyle’s solution is urgent. Increasing PFAS-related lawsuits and billion-dollar settlements in the U.S. are pressuring companies to find preventive solutions. Tightening regulations in the EU and U.S. are driving demand for advanced treatment technologies to meet compliance standards and reduce risks. Data from the Forever Lobbying Project reveals the high cost of inaction. Cleaning up Europe’s soil and water from PFAS contamination could cost €100 billion per year, totaling €2 trillion over the next 20 years.
Looking ahead, Oxyle aims to treat 100 million cubic meters of contaminated water in the next five years. The company plans to expand its solution across industries, from chemical and consumer goods manufacturing to semiconductor production and municipal water treatment – ultimately restoring and protecting our waters from Forever Chemicals, down to the very last drop.
About Oxyle
Oxyle is the world’s first economical, sustainable, and permanent answer to PFAS contamination. The breakthrough PFAS catalytic destruction technology empowers industrial and environmental remediation companies in their fight against PFAS. Oxyle doesn’t just filter or adsorb PFAS; it eliminates it entirely to below detection limits. With a 15x lower average energy consumption than other destructive treatments, it is the most energy-efficient, cost-effective treatment on the market. Established in 2020, Oxyle is is on a mission to protect water from PFAS. As of Jan 2025, Oxyle has secured a total of $26 million in funding, including non-dilutive grants and awards. The company employs approximately 30 people.