Fungi are a mainstay of startup innovation, not only as food sources, but also as promising applications in textiles, packaging, interior design and biomass energy production.
Startups tapping into fungi's pliable applications cover at least 10 out of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it one of the most versatile resources to use across different sectors and segments; including food tech, health tech, B2B, and more.
The number of startups working with fungi has climbed from 32 in 2015 to more than 80 in 2021, and VCs are taking note as funding into this space has jumped from β¬39M in 2015 to β¬1.5B in 2022.
Some notable companies:
Ecovative, a New York-based startup that specializes in mycelium packaging to replace plastics and wood.
In Europe, Mogu develops mycelium material for design that make wall panels and flooring as well as alt-protein, dubbed "mycoprotein."
At Dealroom.co, we've collaborated with Progress Tech Transfer Fund to map 80+ startups developing and innovating mycelium technology. Access the full landscape by clicking the button below. π
π Is this the greenest island in the world? Not a lot of people know the tiny island of Bornholm, Denmark. But it may be the greenest island in the world. Find out how. DW Planet A
π ±οΈ The struggle for the soul of the B Corp movement: The ESG initiative pledges to turn companies into forces for good, but some are wary of its growing focus on multinational corporations. The Financial Times
Weβve ranked the top 100 climate tech startups to watch based on Dealroom Signal: a powerful algorithm helping VCs, Corporates and Governments find the most promising up and coming startups.
This is Dealroom's weekly impact newsletter. Get more industry-specific intelligence on the evolving world of impact, expert insights on purpose-driven startups, responsible tech, ethical investment, and more. Delivered on Tuesdays.
Dealroom.co, Cornelis Dirkszstraat 27-2, 1056 TP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands