Important international investors They give a vote of confidence to the Greek startup (Startup) Coffeeco Upcycle SA, which announced the first phase of the cycle completion funding (Seed Round) of EUR 1 million, with € 715,000 already secured.
VDK Capital, based in London, had a decisive role in coordinating the funding cycle, which offered strategic guidance, investor evaluation and practical support, acting as a valuable partner in the company’s development career.
“Coffeeco has the potential to change the way we view the waste – not as a problem, but as a source of value,” notes Vassilis Karatzenis, founder of VDK Capital. “Their scientific approach to the circular economy, their commitment to quality and their placement in the market are fully aligned with our mission: to support businesses with a substantial social and environmental footprint.”
The new international investors involved in this stage include personalities with a strong presence in the field of innovation and responsible entrepreneurship, such as: Drake G. Behrakis (USA), Vassilis Bakolitsa (USA) and Alex Hadjipateras (USA).
“Coffee and planet are two things very close to my heart. Now, I invest in both through the same company, “says Alex Hadjipateras.
Funding, distinction & international recognition
At the same time, Auraskin’s innovative product range, Auraskin, was chosen from 992 European Consumer Products to participate in Amazon’s Sustainable Development Plan for 2025, hosted in London and Amsterdam.
Auraskin’s choice is not just a distinction, it is a turning point for the company and its business model.
It stood out for its unique suggestion: The skin care starts from the place where most of them start their day, the coffee points. This innovative model of “hand cosmetics” transforms the cafeteria into a new daily contact point with care – not as a substitute for the pharmacy, but as an integral part of the morning routine.
For ten weeks, the Coffeeco team will work with Amazon experts and the European Climate-Kic Innovation Center, with the aim of extroversion, further products development and enhancing its environmental and commercial footprint.
This distinction comes at a critical juncture, with the completion of the first part of the funding round and raising 715,000 euros. The remaining € 285,000 remains open for investors who want to support a dynamic business model, has prospects and redefines the value of waste.
The confidence of new investors is coming to boost an upward trend since 2024, when Coffeeco won the Golden Innovation Award at the Coffee Business Awards and was distinguished at the Venture Impact Awards, receiving funding from The Hellenic Initiative.
From coffee in hand, to cosmetics in hand
Auraskin is the “child” of Coffeeco’s technological innovation. A series of products answering the question:
If coffee wakes you up, why not wake up your skin?
The idea is simple: lip balm moisturizing and sunscreen – not in pharmacies, but where your day begins and you get your coffee. Each product is prepared with clinically tested, bioactive extracts from used coffee beans, which reduce acne bacteria by up to 60% of Qacs
Coffeeco was founded in 2021 by chemical engineers, Dr. Alexis Pantziaro (CEO) and Mario Vlachogiannis (COO), with a single goal: to turn something “useless” into something that creates value – focusing on the circular economy.
In the company’s production unit, in the Patras Industrial Area, the CoffeeCO team extracts antioxidants from coffee residues, which enhance the skin microbiomes, and converts them into cosmetics with substantial action, under the trade name Auraskin – products available directly into selected cafes.
Today, Auraskin has presence in more than 90 selected points in Greece, Cyprus, Spain (Madrid), England (London), Romania and -more recently -in the US (Boston), where it entered the historic South End district, even winning the morning customers.
What makes Auraskin stand out is not only its environmental responsibility, but also its scientifically proven effectiveness. The coffee extract developed by the company is not limited to hydration or protection. It strengthens and supports the microbiome of the skin, bringing to the forefront one of the most modern and dynamic fields of cosmetology: the skin biology in depth, beyond the surface.