Contact BioSolutions Raises $5.6M for FireHawk Bioherbicide Push

Contact BioSolutions, the Australian-founded developer of the FireHawk bioherbicide, has raised $5.6 million to accelerate its expansion in the United States and move toward profitability, the company said.

The capital was secured through the conversion of options rather than a conventional equity financing round. Contact BioSolutions said the money will underwrite operational growth as it scales manufacturing and distribution of its contact weed-control products across North America and Australia.

A fatty-acid alternative to synthetic herbicides

FireHawk is built around nonanoic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid also known as pelargonic acid, paired with a patented delivery technology. The company says the formulation kills weeds, grasses, moss and algae on contact, with visible results in one to three hours and no residual activity in the soil. Its FireHawk Super Concentrate contains 85.26% nonanoic acid.

The product is positioned as an alternative to conventional synthetic weed killers, a category that has faced mounting regulatory and legal scrutiny in recent years. Nonanoic acid is a lower-toxicity active ingredient reviewed by U.S. regulators; the National Pesticide Information Center notes it breaks down readily in the environment. Contact BioSolutions says its ready-to-use FireHawk product is registered for sale in all 50 U.S. states, while the Super Concentrate is registered in 48.

Scaling across two markets

Founded in Australia in 2015, Contact BioSolutions builds on weed-control technology developed by company founder Bill Briggs. The company operates in both Australia and the United States, and in October 2025 relocated its U.S. corporate headquarters to Pasadena, California, from Maurice, Iowa. It maintains its Australian base in Hawthorn, Victoria.

The company pointed to early commercial traction as evidence of demand, citing a recent $25,000 order from a regenerative farm in Texas and continued international expansion into the Australian market. Products are sold both to professional landscapers and agricultural operators and directly to consumers through the company's online store.

Funding and outlook

Contact BioSolutions framed the raise as a bridge to a more self-sustaining phase of the business, saying the funds would speed growth and support advances toward profitability.

"This capital will provide us with a strong basis to help progress our operational plans and support us through this next phase of growth," said Dr. Frank Glatz, the company's managing director.

The bioherbicide segment remains a small slice of a global herbicide market dominated by synthetic chemistries, but interest in lower-toxicity and regenerative-agriculture inputs has grown as growers and municipalities seek alternatives to older products. Contact BioSolutions did not disclose the investors participating in the option conversion or provide updated revenue figures.