Ecovative: We grow better materials

The Problem:

• Manufacturing Crisis: Current material production methods are environmentally unsustainable, capital intensive, and struggle with supply chain volatility
• Market Limitation: Legacy materials can't meet growing demand in meat ($1.5T), fashion ($1.7T), and performance materials ($300B)
• Scalability Gap: New solutions fail to match incumbent materials in performance, price, and production scale

Our Solution:

• Universal Platform: AirMycelium™ technology grows high-performance materials in days
• Proven Scale: 10M+ lbs annual capacity across three facilities, with contracted expansion to 50M+ lbs annual capacity
• Market Validation: Revenue-generating products in food (MyBacon™) and fashion (Forager™), with 800+ store distribution
• Freedom Through Innovation: 40+ patents, plus government validation through $26.2M in federal research funding

Why Now?

• Market Timing: Convergence of consumer demand, technological maturity, and corporate commitments driving adoption
• Technical Maturity: 16 years of R&D culminating in scaled, market-ready products
• Infrastructure Ready: Compatible with existing mushroom farming infrastructure, enabling rapid global scaling
• Competitive Moat: First-mover advantage with proven commercial success and deep IP portfolio

Traction & Growth:

• Commercial Products: Market-leading performance in food (2-3x sales velocity vs competitors) and performance materials
• Strategic Partners: Fortune 500 collaborations in fashion and electronics
• Global Reach: Production facilities in US and Netherlands, with expansion plans across North America and Europe
• Growth Trajectory: Scaling production to meet contracted demand from market leaders in electronics, fashion, and food

Mushroom® Packaging

Sustainable Packaging:

Mushroom® Packaging is grown in 7 days with mycelium and composts at home in 45 days.

Our Journey:

• 2007: Pioneered by Ecovative Design
• 2010: Launched commercially
• 2015: First international liceneses
• 2020: $4.5 million investment to create European AirSpawn™ production site
• 2023: Open-sourced to spur innovation across Europe

Current Reach:

• Global production via AirSpawn™ technology
• Used by brands like Dell, Steelcase, Renais Gin
• Cost effective solution for customer applications <100,000 units year
• Expanding applications and reach enabled by local producers

Advantages:

• 100% bio-based and compostable
• Custom shapes for optimal protection
• Renewable, circular and ocean-safe
• Fire-resistant and hydrophobic

Construction

Building Materials and Furniture:

Mycelium-based materials offer sustainable solutions for low-carbon construction.

Applications:

• Advanced Composites: Lightweight and durable for construction and aerospace
• Insulating Boards: Suitable for self supporting block or panel construction

Benefits:

• Carbon sequestration through growth and application
• Thermal and acoustic insulation
• Fire and mold-resistant
• Can be grown in custom shapes for custom building facades

Pilot Projects:

• Foard Panel: Structural insulated panels (SIPs)
• Panel Site: Accoustical Panels
• Moma PS1: Temporary structures
• Autodesk: Carbon Sequestering Facade System
• New York Botanical Gardens: Wonderland

Our Growth Process

MYCELIUM: A MOLECULAR LOOM

Mycelium fibers

0 1000 µm

Mycelium Foundry: Building Material Abundance

Creating abundant materials by controlling mycelium growth:

• Driving Morphogenesis: We coax mycelium to weave and grow into complex structures through various phenotypic triggers
• Strain Development: Creating new strains with tailored properties for specific applications
• Environmental Programming: We use environmental signals to program the growth of mycelium into desired shapes and structures
• Whole system optimization: We optimize mechanical systems, biology, and humans, to create the best possible materials

Research & Development:

• Partnered with Fortune 500 companies and top research institutes
• Optimizing materials for strength, flexibility, and sustainability
• Exploring new mycelium strains for specialized uses

The Foundry is our innovation hub, transforming mycelium into solutions for global challenges.

Federal Partners: $26.2M through 2024 (US Government Core Research)

Commercial Partners:

Physical and Informational Scale

Current Capacity:

• 3 farms: Swersey Silos, Whitecrest Innovations Inc., and MME Ammerzoden B.V.
• Ecovative HQ: Green Island Park 180,000 sq ft lab, engineering, pilot, and commercial production facilities
• Over 10 million lbs of wood chips converted to high value mycelium products annually and growing
• Harvesting equipment designed by Ecovative, built by industry leading manufacturer Limbraco BV

Contracted Future Capacity:

• Ecovative has signed LOI's with farms in Mexico, Canada, US, the UK, and the Netherlands
• Together, they represent an aggregate million square ft of additional production capacity
• At current scaled yields, this represents $300 million dollars of Pig Free Bacon or Supple Forager Hides
• Between biological optimization (faster growing strains) and additional partners we plan to unlock a further $1 billion in capacity by 2028

Data Scale

• ML Model Maximizes Growth:
  • 26,000 records used to train AI models in just one year
  • 4,500 hours of growth analyzed to refine processes
• Environmental and Process Monitoring:
  • 25 environmental conditions monitored in real-time
  • visual and post process metrics intergrated into process design
• Example Program:
  • 800 different strains & mutants tested for genetic diversity
  • 250 recipes tested to maximize yield
  • 200 substrate compositions evaluated
  • 40 supplements tested to boost growth and health
  • One great new product launched

Spawn & Substrate: Our Biological Technology

Ecovative's Spawn & Substrate division combines 16 years of mycelium expertise with traditional mushroom industry knowledge to deliver high-quality products for growers and innovators alike.

Key Offerings:

• Mushroom Spawn: Quality grain spawn for commercial growers
• Exotic Mushroom Substrate: Pre-inoculated blocks for optimal growth
• Inoculated Substrate: Fully colonized bags of signature substrate blends
• MycoComposite™: Proprietary blend for eco-friendly materials

Competitive Advantages:

• State-of-the-art facilities in Venlo, Netherland, and Green Island, NY
• Automated systems ensuring consistent, high-quality products
• Expert mycologists and rigorous quality control
• Diverse strain offerings for various applications

Impact on Ecovative's Growth:

• Supports global network of mycelium material producers
• Enables rapid scaling of production capacity
• Drives innovation in strain development and substrate formulations

Our Spawn & Substrate division forms the foundation of Ecovative's mycelium technology platform, enabling growth across all our product lines and supporting the broader mycelium industry.

Ecovative Patents and Open Source Initiative

Intellectual Property Portfolio:

• Over 40 issued patents worldwide
• Covering key aspects of mycelium technology and applications
• Patents in materials science, biotechnology, and manufacturing processes

Open Patent Program: Open Mycelium Composites

• Open access to core European and Israeli composites patents
• Zero-cost licensing for program participants
• Ecovative uses patents to maintain our freedom to operate, we welcome others to build on our composite ecosystem

Technical Benefits for Participants:

• Unrestricted use of Ecovative's patented mycelium cultivation techniques
• Access to advanced biomaterial formulations and processing methods
• Ability to develop and commercialize novel mycelium-based products
• Collaborative ecosystem for rapid technological advancement

Fostering Open Innovation:

• Cross-pollination of ideas within the mycelium technology community
• Shared knowledge base accelerating R&D efforts
• Creating a global network of mycelium innovators and entrepreneurs

Looking forward

Medicine & Biotechnology

Advancing Health Through Mycelium:

• Functional Molecules: Novel compounds
• Cellular Scaffolding: Growing other cell types
• Regenerative Medicine: Bone mineralization, wound healing

Information Processing

Neuromorhpic Computation with mycelium cyborgs:

• Hyphal Computing Network (HCN): Living computers
• Computational Density: 4 billion teraflops/cubic inch
• Energy Efficiency: Minimal energy consumption
• Biologically-Inspired Architecture: Adaptive systems

Vision + Values

Creating Material Abundance

• Biology represents our most advanced technology
• Mycelium is uniquely tamable as living technology
• We use mycelium to create material abundance
• Technological abundance is the fuel for democracy and capitalism
• We believe by harnessing biology we can have positive feedback loops for the growth of capital, the operation of earth, and the health of people.
• Our goal: Creating everyday abundance for those on spaceship Earth and beyond, in food, clothing, housing, medicine, and computation

Our Core Values

• Outcome Oriented: We judge ourselves on results, not effort
• Growth: Consistently delivering business growth that improves Spaceship Earth
• Agency: You create the change, here and in the world
• Integrity: Doing right in all of our conduct
• Discipline: To focus, execute, and follow through

Community

Collaboration and community is neccesary to drive positive change. Grow.bio is what we would have wanted to start growing with mycelium when we were young.

Grow.bio: Empowering Mycelium Creators

Grow.bio is our initiative to democratize mycelium technology, born from a grant by the Buckminster Fuller Foundation. We provide the tools, knowledge, and community support for anyone to harness the power of mycelium in their creative projects.

What is Grow.bio?

Grow.bio is a platform that enables individuals and businesses to grow custom mycelium materials. Whether you're an artist, designer, student, or entrepreneur, we offer the resources you need to bring your mycelium ideas to life.

Our Offerings:

• Grow-It-Yourself Kits: Everything you need to start growing mycelium at home
• Bulk Materials: For larger projects and commercial applications
• Educational Resources: Comprehensive guides, videos, and workshops
• Community Forum: Connect with fellow mycelium enthusiasts and experts
• Custom Solutions: Tailored support for unique projects and applications

Why Choose Grow.bio?

• Sustainable Materials: 100% bio-based and compostable
• Versatility: Suitable for packaging, textiles, building materials, and more
• Expert Support: Backed by Ecovative's years of mycelium research and development
• Scalability: From small DIY projects to industrial-scale

Join the mycelium revolution and start growing your ideas with Grow.bio today!

Team

Grow Better Materials, Grow Your Career

Ecovative is building the foundation for a new materials economy. Our team of mycologists, engineers, and business folks are united in the mission to create material abundance through mycelium technology.

Our Operational DNA:

• North Star Clarity: Clear business KPIs, open-ended execution
• Proof by Demonstration: From MVP to scaled innovation
• Functional Pragmatism: Simple solutions to complex challenges
• Lean Project Management: Efficient, focused, results-driven
• Trust by Default: Empowering teams, driving innovation

Why Join Ecovative:

• Pioneering Technology: Shape the future of materials
• Rapid Innovation: From concept to commercial scale at speed
• Global Impact: Transform industries with mycelium-based solutions
• Collaborative Culture: Work alongside world-class experts in mycology and biotechnology

Looking Back

Ecovative: A Brief History

• 1992-2003: Eben discovers the "Forager's Secret" on his family farm, learning about nature's resilient abundance.
• 2007: Inspired by their mentor Burt Swersey, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre found Ecovative at RPI.
• 2010: Commercial launch of Mushroom® Packaging, applying mycelial networks to circular materials.
• 2016: Development of AirMycelium™ technology, first pure mycelium slabs grown in solid culture.
• 2020: MyForest Foods introduces MyBacon™, now the market leader in plant based breakfast.
• 2023: Launch of Forager™ hides, scaled hides at leather like performance.
• 2024: Ecovative activates two partner farms, demonstrating AirMycelium's compatibility with the Global Mushroom Farm industrial base

We Grow Better Materials