MycoWorks
MycoWorks produces high quality leather alternatives from mycelium.
Summary
MycoWorks creates high quality leather alternatives from mycelium marketed as Reishi. This material is found in fungi and consists of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae, which supplies its strength. Reishi can be dyed, tanned and imprinted and has the same versatility as leather which means customers can use it in a wide variety of products. MycoWorks has partnerships with some of the most well-known brands in sportswear and fashion.
Why we invested
- Amazing product qualities that in some cases may even be superior to leather.
- Strong team with CEO that previously raised $65M
- Scaling risk seems low with copy and paste production modules using dry fermentation.
- Impressive customer pipeline that includes the world's most well known sports and fashion brands.
- Strong co-investors - round led by DCVC.
- Product has a story that seems to sell itself.
Contact MycoWorks
Team
Matthew Scullin
CEO
Matt was a cofounder of venture backed Alphabet Energy, a cleantech startup, in 2009 for which he raised over $65M. He was named Forbes 30 under 30 and worked at IBM and GM. He has a PhD in Materials Science from Berkeley and a BSE in Materials Science from UPenn.
Mike Lindheim
COO
Mike worked with Matt at Alphabet Energy. Before that he built a major construction company, Schwartz & Lindheim, before selling it to Morrow-Meadows. He then joined Better Place to lead the design and scaling of global charging infrastructure across 4 continents. Mike holds a BC in Managerial Economics from UC Davis.
Philip Ross
Cofounder/CTO
Philip is an artist, inventor and scholar and is the creator of MycoWorks' technology. His innovations are recognized as foundational to the invention of mycotecture - the practical application of fungus based engineering. In 2014 he joined Stanford's Department of Bioengineering as a Visiting Scholar. Philip holds an MFA from Stanford and a BFA from the SF Art Institute.
Sophia Wang
Cofounder/Chief of Staff & Culture
Sophia cofounded Mycoworks in 2013. As CEO she steered Mycoworks through the IndieBio accelerator and recruited Matt as CEO. She currently works as Chief of Staff & Culture. Sophia has a BA in English & Visual Arts form Columbia and a PhD in English from UC Berkeley.