
Epoch Biodesign uses AI-designed enzymes to convert hard-to-recycle plastics and textiles into high-purity circular chemicals for reuse. The company combines AI, synthetic biology, enzyme…

Epoch Biodesign uses AI-designed enzymes to convert hard-to-recycle plastics and textiles into high-purity circular chemicals for reuse. The company combines AI, synthetic biology, enzyme…
What they do: AI-designed enzymes and biocatalysis to depolymerize hard-to-recycle polymers (e.g., nylon 6,6) into virgin‑grade building blocks
Scale: Multi-tonne pilot plant online since 2025; second site targeted in 2026
Founded: 2019 (London)
Recent raise: Series A $18.3M (Mar 2025)
Tech / focus: Enzyme engineering, synthetic biology, materials & process engineering
Plastic and textile waste recycling, circular materials
2019
Biotechnology
18.3M
Round reported oversubscribed; included strategic and VC participants and a UK government grant reported alongside the round.
“Combination of climate/VC funds and strategic apparel investors (includes Extantia Capital as Series A lead, Lowercarbon Capital, Mundi Ventures/Inditex, Lululemon among participants)”
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Epoch Biodesign Epoch Biodesign is a well-funded, venture-backed start-up using biology to make every type of plastic recyclable - starting with nylon.
Using a unique combination of AI, synthetic biology and green chemistry, we are scaling enzymatic recycling in order to transform currently unrecyclable plastics and textiles into new, virgin-quality materials. Our technology yields substantial reductions in carbon emissions with disruptive unit economics, preventing waste from entering landfill or the environment, allowing us to solve this very urgent challenge.
With our pilot plant already processing nylon 6,6 waste, we will imminently complete construction on our larger demo facility. This site will produce material destined for use in garments made by some of the world’s biggest fashion, sportswear and luxury brands, and also in components for some of the world’s largest car companies.
The Role As a Machine Learning Engineer at Epoch you will design and build custom machine learning models that deepen our understanding of protein sequence–structure–function relationships, directly informing enzyme engineering decisions. Working closely with computational and lab biologists, you will rapidly prototype approaches, figure out what works and what doesn't, and develop custom models - not off-the-shelf solutions - grounded in evolutionary constraints. We want someone scrappy and pragmatic who can move fast, test ideas cheaply, and pivot without hesitation.
Your core activities will include:
Essential Qualifications And Experience
Beneficial
Benefits And Perks Epoch Biodesign offers a comprehensive benefits program. At the moment this includes:
On-the-job perks:
And we’re continuously reviewing and enhancing our benefits and work environment.
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