TômTex’s Founder and CEO Uyen Tran
New York-based biomaterial company TômTex has secured US$4.15 million in a seed investment round led by Happiness Capital.
Earth Venture Capital, SOSV, Parley for the Oceans, and MIH Capital also participated.
The funding will support the growth of TômTex’s Brooklyn team, fill key leadership roles, and enhance manufacturing capabilities.
Founded by Vietnamese entrepreneur Uyen Tran, TômTex aims to craft innovative materials mimicking natural life cycles, providing eco-friendly alternatives to production methods contributing to the environmental crisis.
Also Read: How biotech is changing the global agriculture game for investors
The company makes textiles from shrimp shells and mushrooms to replace conventional animal and plastic-based leathers. The product line comprises Series WS (crafted from discarded seafood shells) and Series M (derived from mushrooms). Both utilise raw chitosan, a biopolymer abundant in seafood shells and mushrooms.
The chitosan is blended with eco-friendly substances in a sustainable chemical process to produce a breathable and durable textile. It resembles genuine leather and maintains a soft texture suitable for hand-stitching and machine-sewing.
In pursuing leather alternatives to replace current animal and plastic-based materials, the fashion and automotive industries are engaged in a rapid race. TômTex’s scalability lies in utilising existing food waste to create innovative textiles. This approach contrasts with the process of lab-growing new materials, known for its time-consuming and costly nature.
The startup recently producing one hundred linear feet in this initial run with a plan for a 10x follow-up in the next few weeks.
“More than scaling, it’s a strategic step to secure new contracts and revenue, strengthening our market position,” said Tran.
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