They weren’t hunting for accelerators. They were heads down, building. But late one night, just before the deadline, Materia Bioworks stumbled across a Reddit post about CodeLaunch —and decided to go for it.
“One of our co-founders found a Reddit post the day before applications closed,” shared Raj Manocha, Co-Founder and Director of Sales and Finance at Materia. “We didn’t even think we’d get in. But we thought—why not?”
That last-minute decision became the turning point in their company’s journey.
Building the Future of Sustainable Materials
Based in Toronto, Materia Bioworks is a climatetech startup, building tools to accelerate the global shift away from petroleum-based materials. Their software platform helps R&D teams across the biomaterials supply chain develop sustainable products faster,—and at lower costs.
“We saw how long it took to get a bio-based product to market,” said Raj. “Even with mature materials, the R&D process can take years. We built Materia to change that.”
Before launching officially in late 2023, Materia operated more like a consultancy. But everything changed by spring 2024, when they pivoted toward a scalable platform model—and discovered CodeLaunch.
From Hackathon to Toronto Stage
“We were bootstrapped. No social media. No outside investors. We were just building,” Raj explained. “CodeLaunch was the first outside platform to believe in us.”
After being accepted as a finalist, Materia was matched with Contollo, a professional software development team. Together, they spent 24 hours building and refining the platform during the CodeLaunch hackathon—an experience that shaped Materia’s trajectory.
Contollo helped the team identify product gaps, build a technical framework, and prepare for pitch night at Toronto’s historic El Mocambo.
“We didn’t expect to win,” Raj said. “We just wanted to build and learn. But when they called our name… it was unforgettable.”
To A Global Win in Dallas
As champions of CodeLaunch Canada, Materia earned their spot at the 2024 World Championship in Dallas, Texas. The stakes were higher, the crowd larger, and the opportunity bigger than ever.
“The Dallas venue was massive. None of us had ever even been to Texas. And now we were pitching on a global stage,” said Raj. “Every finalist brought something incredible. We were honestly shocked when they called our name again.”
Winning the World Championship wasn’t just about the belt—it was about validation, visibility, and a real shot at growth.
Fueling Growth with a $25K Investment
Soon after their World Championship title, Materia received a $25,000 investment from the CodeLaunch Fuel Fund, powered by Improving. Delivered via a founder-friendly SAFE note, the funding landed in under 30 days.
“It was seamless,” Raj said. “We’ve worked with other investors before, and there’s usually back-and-forth, delays, negotiation. But not with CodeLaunch. The terms were respected, the process was quick, and the trust was there.”
This funding, paired with over $135K in in-kind services from CodeLaunch partners, helped fast-track Materia’s pre-seed round—which was nearly closed at the time of this interview.
Growing the Team, Evolving the Product
Since CodeLaunch, Materia has expanded its team with key hires, including a software developer and a materials informatician. They’ve also brought on additional contractors to push their platform forward.
One major shift post-win was their decision to pivot from a subscription model to a token-based system, designed to better meet the needs of product developers and R&D teams across the biomaterials industry.
“We’re not just building software—we’re building infrastructure for a cleaner future,” Raj said.
Looking Ahead
Materia plans to launch their pilot programs in 2025 with partners across the bio-based materials space. While names remain under wraps, the focus is clear: reduce R&D time and costs for companies ready to move away from petroleum-based products.
And thanks to the support from CodeLaunch and the global exposure that followed, they’re well on their way.
To the Founder Still on the Fence
When asked what he’d say to other founders considering CodeLaunch,—especially in Canada,—Raj didn’t hesitate.
“We didn’t think we were ready. But we did it —and you can too,” he said. “Even if you don’t win, you get paired with a professional dev team and gain invaluable experience. There’s only upside.”
For Raj and the Materia team, CodeLaunch wasn’t just an accelerator. It was a moment of transformation.
It all started with one application.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign—this is it.
CodeLaunch Canada closes this Sunday April 14 at midnight.