Fresh funds for manmade cellulose start-up - sportstextiles: Lea SportsTextiles

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Fresh funds for manmade cellulose start-up

06/12/2024
The US National Science Foundation has awarded Rubi Labs, a start-up based in San Francisco, a $969,961 Small Business Innovation Research Phase II grant.

This second phase funding follows up on a first one in 2023 and will allow the company founded by twin sisters Leila and Neeka Mashouf to build on prior research into developing and stabilising its enzyme-based production process for manmade cellulosic fibres.

The process in development by Rubi is said to use a series of specialised enzymes to transform simple 1-carbon molecules into complex polymers such as cellulose. Compared to traditional fermentation or chemical catalysis methods, It claims that its “cell-free enzymatic platform” is less capital intensive and delivers higher yields (and less waste) compared to fermentation processes.

Up till now, the company founded in 2021 has received $8.7 million in a seed funding round led by H&M Group and Patagonia. It has launched pilot programmes with Walmart, Ganni, Nuuly and Reformation.

Related stories:

Rubi joins Walmart in apparel prototyping project 31/07/2023
Ganni makes 50% recycled yarn from its own waste 14/03/2023
Rubi onboards first brand partners, new investors 03/03/2023
Rubi raises $4.5m for novel ‘carbon-negative’ material 17/02/2022

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