Suzano To Invest US$ 70 Million In Program To Encourage Startups Aiming To Boost Open Innovation In The Low Carbon Area

The Launch of Suzano Ventures Will Promote Investments Destined for Startups Both in Brazil and Abroad

This Tuesday (the 14th), Suzano, the world’s largest producer of eucalyptus pulp, announced the launch of Suzano Ventures, the company’s Corporate Venture Capital (CVC). The initiative will allocate US$ 70 million in resources for investing in and fostering startups. Through it, Suzano aims to accelerate the process of open innovation and become a global platform for promoting entrepreneurship focused on solutions for the bioeconomy based on planted forests.

The company stated in a communication sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) that the focus of investments made by Suzano Ventures will be on technologies and applications of cellulose biomass; agritech companies that accelerate agroforestry productivity; cellulose packaging and carbon capture, measurement, and management, in businesses ranging from the laboratory phase (pre-seed) to more structured ones (series A).

Suzano Executive States That the CVC Could Receive More Investments in the Future, as There Is No Established Target

According to the director of carbon business and corporate venture at Suzano, Julio Ramundo, Suzano Ventures is created with the expectation of accelerating the company’s innovation process. Ramundo explained that there is no deadline or investment target for the CVC and, therefore, the initiative could benefit from more investments in the future. However, there is an initial approval of R$ 70 million.

The executive also highlighted that his desire is to close at least one investment by the end of this year, with an English startup in the area of new materials already under analysis by Suzano Venture. He emphasized that in the coming months there should be a recurring flow of opportunities, and that investments should correspond to stakes of 10% to 40% in the startups. Thus, there will be no acquisition of control, given that Suzano’s proposal is to occupy the position of a partner in the ventures in question.

The company’s investment forecast corresponds to the amount of 10 to 15 “seed” and series A projects and between 15 and 20 pre-seed projects, both in Brazil and abroad.

Innovation in Service of Sustainability Is Part of Suzano’s Strategy to Boost Its Business and the Bioeconomy

Furthermore, the company asserts that the launch of Suzano Venture is in harmony with its long-term strategy, which considers “inovability,” that is, innovation in service of sustainability, an important boost for its business and for society on the path to bioeconomy and the generation and application of low-carbon technologies.

Suzano also stated that Suzano Ventures will be present in major innovation ecosystems, to make investments in startups both in Brazil and in other countries.

About Suzano

Suzano is a Brazilian paper and pulp company founded in 1924. It is the world leader in the paper market, the largest global producer of eucalyptus pulp, and one of the top 10 market pulp producers. Furthermore, it is headquartered in Salvador and has an administrative office in São Paulo, with global operations in around 60 countries.

Its operations are divided into three business units: Paper, Pulp, and Forestry.

The company has a strong base of research and innovation, as well as a strong international presence, already having made direct investments in startups. Futuragene, for example, which is a biotechnology company focused on forest improvement, is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzano.