What does it take to turn world-class science into a commercial success story?
For KluraLabs, the journey has taken the company from a single laboratory bench at The EpiCentre in Haverhill to major retail partnerships, international opportunities and a recent £8.0 million investment round.
Originally founded in 2020 by Dr Matin Mohseni and Dr Reza Saberi Moghaddam, the business set out to develop advanced antimicrobial technologies capable of tackling real-world challenges. Combining expertise in materials science, nanotechnology and biomedical engineering, the team developed innovative solutions designed to combat viruses, bacteria and fungi across a range of applications.
In November 2020, the company, then known as CodiKoat, became the first business to take laboratory space at The EpiCentre. Starting with a single bench, the team had access to specialist laboratory facilities, business support and a collaborative innovation community that helped accelerate both scientific and commercial progress.
Over the following years, KluraLabs secured multiple Innovate UK grants and attracted private investment, enabling the business to expand its research capability, grow its team and move successfully from laboratory development to real-world trials. Early projects demonstrated the effectiveness of its antimicrobial technologies across a variety of applications, helping establish the company’s reputation within the sector.
As the business grew, so did its footprint at The EpiCentre. What began as a single laboratory bench evolved into dedicated chemistry and microbiology facilities, supporting a growing team of scientists and engineers. The company’s success highlighted the importance of flexible laboratory space, allowing ambitious businesses to scale without disrupting momentum.
Alongside technical development, KluraLabs continued to strengthen its intellectual property portfolio and gained wider recognition for its achievements. Founder Dr Matin Mohseni was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list, while the business built a strong pipeline of patents and commercial partnerships.
As the technology matured, the company identified a significant opportunity within food packaging and food waste reduction. This led to the development of its antimicrobial packaging solution, designed to extend shelf life without requiring manufacturers to change existing production processes.
The move marked an important evolution for the business. With applications spanning packaging, textiles, healthcare products and industrial materials, the company rebranded from CodiKoat to KluraLabs to better reflect its broader ambitions and growing portfolio of technologies.
Since then, KluraLabs has continued to translate scientific innovation into commercial products. Among its developments was CrossGuard, an antimicrobial nitrile glove created in partnership with Unigloves, demonstrating how the company’s technology can be integrated into everyday products used across healthcare, laboratory and food-processing environments.
During its time at the centre, The EpiCentre provided the business with specialist laboratory facilities and opportunities to raise its profile through events, networking, and tailored business support from its on-site Innovation Director, Gary Jennings. Together, this provided an environment where KluraLabs could grow from an early-stage start-up into a business working with major customers and retailers.
Today, KluraLabs employs a highly skilled team of scientists and engineers and is working with leading retailers, including M&S, as it explores new opportunities across UK and European food supply chains.
Its most recent milestone came in 2026 with the completion of an £8.0 million funding round led by Ahren Innovation Capital, alongside participation from Triple B, JamJar Investments and Bramble Partners. The investment will support further product development and the commercial roll-out of its shelf-life technology across the retail sector.
As KluraLabs graduates from The EpiCentre, it leaves behind an impressive legacy of innovation, growth and achievement. From a single laboratory bench in Haverhill to becoming a business with international ambition and significant commercial backing, its progress demonstrates what can be achieved when pioneering science is combined with the right environment, facilities and support.
Helen Earl, Centre Manager at The EpiCentre, said:
“KluraLabs has been part of The EpiCentre’s story since the very beginning, and it has been incredible to watch the business grow. Their success is a fantastic example of how innovative companies can thrive when they have access to the right facilities, expertise and support network. We are proud to have played a small part in that journey and look forward to seeing what comes next.”
As KluraLabs enters its next phase of growth, its journey stands as a powerful example of how bespoke innovation space, specialist facilities and on-site support provided at The EpiCentre can help transform promising ideas into successful, high-growth businesses.
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