Viridi, the Southampton company formerly known as ViridiCO2, raised £2.2m (about $2.9m) in a round reported in early November 2026. Odyssey Ventures led it, and TOP Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Thaioil, joined as a strategic investor. Alphatron Impact Ventures and existing angel investors also took part, according to Startup Rise.
None of the reports states a stage or a valuation, and Startup Rise does not describe earlier round amounts. This site lists the round as a seed round because Viridi's last disclosed financing, in 2023, was a seed round.
“We'll be working closely with them to deliver our technology to market, starting in Asia.”Dr Daniel Stewart, CEO, Viridi
What Viridi does
Viridi develops catalysts that let factories use captured carbon dioxide as a raw material for chemicals. Startup Rise reported that the products include ingredients for liquid detergents, cosmetics, adhesives and mattress foams, and that the technology works with existing factory equipment, so manufacturers do not need to rebuild their plants.
Surfactants are the first target. The company's own news release said Viridi launched its first CO2-based anionic surfactant, called Vireya, in 2025. It also said Viridi signed a joint development agreement with Zschimmer & Schwarz earlier in 2026 and won a Renewable Material of the Year 2026 Innovation Award.
Viridi was founded in 2020. Tech.eu reported in 2023 that it is a spinout from the University of Southampton, with technology that came out of the PhD research of Dr Daniel Stewart, who is now chief executive.
Who invested
TOP Ventures is the main new name. Vivat Wongnirund, Thaioil's vice president for new S-curve business development, described Viridi's approach to using captured CO2 as an alternative carbon input as highly innovative, and said the technology has been tested in real manufacturing environments, according to Startup Rise. Thaioil said it has followed Viridi's development since 2024.
Ali Mitchell, managing partner at Odyssey Ventures, said Odyssey aims to back UK and European deep-tech companies solving fundamental problems, and that Viridi is exactly that kind of company. Stewart said TOP Ventures' investment was strong validation of what the team had built.
What the money is for
Viridi said the funds will go to developing and scaling the technology, growing the team and expanding into Asia and the US. The company's news release said it will work with TOP Ventures in Asia and with Odyssey Ventures in the US.
The sources give no revenue or headcount. The company has said only that it plans to grow its team. Stewart said Viridi would work closely with TOP Ventures to deliver its technology to market, starting in Asia.
Wongnirund said the investment gives Thaioil exposure to an emerging technology.
The funding so far
In March 2023 ViridiCO2 raised a £3m seed round led by EQT Ventures, Tech.eu reported at the time. The new £2.2m is smaller than that round, and the sources do not give a total raised to date.
Company website: viridico2.co.uk