About us
Our team consists of a mix of members from various scientific backgrounds. With knowledge ranging from the field of biotechnology, to physics, and process engineering, we strive towards creating a robust bioreactor system that can be incorporated at production sites around the world.

Christopher Kimmel
Co-Founder & Operations Lead
He plans, strategises, and oversees. From securing funding and building industry relationships to setting the team’s objectives and keeping the project moving. Christopher drives Cyan Cycle’s strategy, partnerships, and day-to-day operations, turning early-stage research into real-world traction.

Alina Heiling
Co-Founder & Research Lead
Alina leads the biological research behind Cyan Cycle’s reactor system, from conducting experiments to implementing contamination protocols. Most of her work plays out in the lab to ensure a functioning cultivation process and investigate viable product pathways.

Nikolaus Mandelburger
Co-Founder & Technology Lead
Nikolaus leads the design, engineering, and testing of Cyan Cycle’s bioreactor systems. He has taken the technology from early lab-scale prototypes to a fully operational 1,000-litre reactor. Since coming up with the concept, Nikolaus has worked relentlessly to make his idea a reality.
Our Story
October, 2022
Algal project is born
Nikolaus, Christopher, and Anna form a team in the 13th Austrian Sustainability Challenge, a transdisciplinary programme in which students, start-up coaches, and partner organisations create innovative solutions for socio-ecological transformation and work towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
June, 2023

Cyan Cycle debuts
Nikolaus and Christopher present the first official prototype of the reactor system at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
October, 2023
Cyan Cycle gains support by ATTACCA
Cyan Cycle receives financial support from the ATTACCA GmbH to further the development of the bioreactor system.
May, 2024
Cyan Cycle joins forces with accent incubator
accent is the high-tech incubator of Lower Austria. Guided by the principle of 'Competence and Passion,' accent supports us with a focused, intensive programme to take Cyan Cycle to the next level.
November, 2024
Cyan Cycle secures funding by aws
From November 2024, Cyan Cycle is part of the aws First Incubator programme. Our aim: turn our prototypes into robust, industry-ready solutions for carbon capture and utilisation.
Mar, 2026

First full-scale 1,000L pilot trial with Air Liquide and Cyano Care
Completion of the first full-scale, 1,000-litre bioreactor. In a pilot trial, it runs on industrial CO2 sponsored by Air Liquide and produces biomass aimed for use by CyanoCare, proving the full concept of converting CO2 into bio-based products.
Sep, 2026
Joins the ValueCO2 consortium to share its findings and advance CO2 valorization research
Building on the pilot's success, Cyan Cycle joins the ValueCO2 research consortium — a multi-year partnership advancing the microbiological valorisation of CO2 at scale, contributing our findings to push the wider field forward.
Online Coverage
Tullnerfeld wird Europäisches Start-up Village (ORF, March 2025) (German)
„Startup-Village Tulln“ als Innovationsmotor für denländlichen Raum (Landespressedienst NÖ, March 2025) (German)
Forschung statt Feldarbeit, wie Start-ups das Land hip machen sollen (Kurier, March 2025) (German)
Hier entsteht die Öko-Zukunft der Landwirtschaft (Kronen Zeitung, March 2025) (German)
Carbon Capture System zur CO2 Reduktion (accent accelerating ideas, February 2025) (German)
Stadt Tulln unterstützt Biotech-Start-Ups (Mein Bezirk, January 2025) (German)
ÖGUT-Umweltpreis 2024 – die Nominierten stehen fest (Pressetext, October 2024) (German)
Nominiert für den Sonderpreis „Erneuerbare Energie“: Cyan Cycle (ÖGUT, October 2024) (German)
ÖGUT Environmental Award 2024: Special prize „Renewable Energy“ – Congratulations to the nominees! (Energiepark Forschungsstiftung, October 2024) (English)
Lange Nacht der Forschung 2024: Ein Abend voller Innovation und Inspiration (accent Inkubator, June 2024) (German)
Introducing Our Startups – Cyan Cycle (accent Inkubator, June 2024) (German)
#glaubandich Challenge in Tulln: Die Startups aus Bio & Agricultural Innovation (Trending Topics, February 2024) (German)
Cyan Cycle at the 13. Sustainability Challenge (Sustainability Challenge , June 2023) (German)



