Ecovative: Molecular Mycotechnology
Our Mission: Universal Molecular Manufacturing
The Path:
- Master mycelium growth [✓]
- Develop top-tier products [✓]
- Scale to millions of pounds [✓]
- Grow increasingly valuable molecular structures []
- Achieve molecular-level precision manufacturing []
- Create material abundance []
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." - Buckminster Fuller
Our Products:
Food
Farmed. Not Fake.
We transform wildtype gourmet mycelium into whole, sliceable meat alternatives grown indoors.
Why Mycelium:
- Whole Cut Meats: Natural texture in large, sliced strips
- Sustainable: Indoor cultivation with low environmental impact
- Versatile: Ready to cook like traditional meats
- Nutritious: Rich in protein and essential nutrients
Introducing MyBacon:
Delicious bacon without the drawbacks.
- Whole slices of meaty mycelium
- Brined using our secret recipe
- Ready to cook
- Simply heat and enjoy
Market Success:
- Distribution: 600+ stores on East Coast, expanding West Coast
- Key Retailers: Whole Foods, Good Eggs, PCC Markets, Erewhon, Purple Carrot
- Performance: 3x sales velocity vs competitors
- Q3 2024 Growth: 2.6x Q2 sales
- Pricing Power: 2x other alt meats; Competitive with Organic Bacon
*Based on 2024 SPINS data
"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
— Aristotle
EXPLORE MYFOREST FOODS
Fashion & Textiles: Forager
Leather like feel, performance, and nature, without the animal*
- Partnerships: Investment, development and collaboration with leading luxury and mass market brands
- Applications: Handbags, footwear, accessories, apparel
- Performance: Customizable hides that mimic animal leather in stretch, drape, and toughness
- Scale:Proven scaled capacity with dedicated farm sites and tanning partners.
- Who's wearing it? : We are! Brand launches in 2025 @ scale
Benefits:
- Stable Supply: Economical indoor production enables 5 and 10 year planning horizons for supply
- CO2 Story: 1/4 the CO2 footprint of traditional leather
- Customizable: Through Strain and Environment controls for a tailored product
- Scalable: From luxury to mass market
- Circular: Renewable and ocean-safe
Technical Properties
| Property |
Leather |
AirLoom 1 |
AirLoom 2 |
| Tensile Strength |
12 MPa |
3 MPa |
12 MPa |
| Tear Strength |
2 N/mm |
1.5 N/mm |
3 N/mm |
| Elongation % |
15% |
10% |
25-30% |
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." - Steve Jobs
DISCOVER FORAGER
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
"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." - Buckminster Fuller
EXPLORE MUSHROOM® PACKAGING
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:
"I'm not a genius. I'm just a tremendous bundle of experience." - Buckminster Fuller
LEARN MORE ABOUT MYCELIUM IN CONSTRUCTION
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.
"Nature is trying very hard to make us succeed, but nature does not depend on us. We are not the only experiment." - Buckminster Fuller
EXPLORE MYCELIUM FOUNDRY
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
"All stable processes we shall predict. All unstable processes we shall control." - John von Neumann
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 mushroom and mycelium industries.
"The most important step of all is the first step. Start differentiating yourself now and start building your foundation." - Jack Welch
EXPLORE SPAWN & SUBSTRATE
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
"Technology leadership is not defined by patents, which history has repeatedly shown to be small protection indeed against a determined competitor, but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world's most talented engineers. We believe that applying the open source philosophy to our patents will strengthen rather than diminish Tesla's position in this regard." - Elon Musk
EXPLORE OPEN PATENT PROGRAM
Looking forward
Medicine & Biotechnology
Advancing Health Through Mycelium:
- Functional Molecules: Novel compounds
- Cellular Scaffolding: Growing other cell types
- Regenerative Medicine: Bone mineralization, wound healing
LEARN MORE
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
"Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all." - John F. Kennedy
EXPLORE BIOCOMPUTE
Vision + Values
Creating Material Abundance
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
- 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
"We are all astronauts on a little spaceship called Earth. We are not passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are the crew. We are not born with an operations manual. We are born with the obligation of operating this spaceship effectively." - Buckminster Fuller
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
"The best way to predict the future is to design it." - Buckminster Fuller
Community
Collaboration and community is neccessary to drive positive change. Grow.bio is what we would have wanted to start growing with mycelium when we were young.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
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!
"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito." - Dalai Lama
DISCOVER GROW.BIO
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
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Ready to create material abundance?
