In this Founder Spotlight, Eloisa Arrarte—Founder & CEO of Polymera—shares how research in Antarctica inspired a new class of biodegradable, bacteria-derived superabsorbents with applications in hygiene and agriculture.
Polymera is developing biodegradable superabsorbents inspired by Antarctic microorganisms to replace petroleum-based incumbents in hygiene and agriculture. Eloisa Arrarte explains the shift from academic discovery to market validation, emphasizing performance & price, regulatory realities, and early industry testing. She outlines a scale strategy via CMOs and long-term licensing, and describes how AI can accelerate materials R&D. The conversation also highlights team trust, resilience, and the role of LatAm as a validation hub for global expansion.
