Malmö-based startup LivingFilters has raised SEK 4.6 million (€420,000 / $470,000) in a pre-seed funding round led by Turbine Capital, marking an early milestone for the Swedish deep-tech company developing AI-designed protein systems for advanced water purification.
The company is building a new class of biological filtration technology, where engineered proteins act as highly selective biosensors capable of capturing specific molecules, substances, or even pathogens from water systems.
AI-Designed Proteins for Precision Filtration
At the core of LivingFilters’ approach is the use of artificial intelligence to design custom proteins that can bind to targeted contaminants.
Unlike conventional filtration methods that rely on physical barriers or broad-spectrum chemical processes, LivingFilters’ proteins are designed for molecular precision. This allows them to identify and capture specific unwanted substances while leaving clean water unaffected.
The technology positions proteins not just as biological components, but as programmable materials with industrial applications in environmental protection.
Addressing Global Water Contamination Challenges
Water contamination remains one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, ranging from industrial pollutants and chemical residues to emerging biological threats such as pathogens.
Traditional filtration systems often struggle to selectively remove contaminants without requiring energy-intensive processes or producing secondary waste.
LivingFilters is aiming to address this gap by developing highly selective, reusable biological filters that could be deployed in water treatment systems, industrial pipelines, or environmental monitoring setups.
From Bioscience to Industrial Application
The startup sits at the intersection of synthetic biology, AI, and environmental engineering.
By combining computational protein design with real-world environmental use cases, LivingFilters is part of a growing wave of deep-tech companies turning biological systems into programmable tools for industry.
If successful, the technology could extend beyond water purification into applications such as:
- Detection and capture of environmental toxins
- Industrial wastewater treatment
- Pathogen filtration in healthcare and public infrastructure
- Precision environmental biosensing
Backed by Early Deep-Tech Investors
The pre-seed round was led by Turbine Capital, signaling investor interest in next-generation CleanTech solutions powered by synthetic biology and AI.
Early-stage funding will support continued R&D efforts, including protein design optimization, lab validation, and early pilot applications.
Sweden’s Growing Synthetic Biology Ecosystem
Sweden has become an increasingly active hub for deep-tech and bio-AI startups, particularly in fields that combine computational methods with life sciences.
LivingFilters reflects this trend, leveraging advances in machine learning-driven protein design to tackle environmental challenges with biological precision.
Looking Ahead
While still in its early stages, LivingFilters represents a broader shift toward programmable biology for industrial use cases.
By rethinking filtration as a molecular design problem rather than a mechanical one, the company is exploring a fundamentally new approach to water purification.
As demand for cleaner water and more efficient environmental technologies grows, AI-designed protein systems could become a key building block in next-generation CleanTech infrastructure.
