If you look at a mushroom, you probably don’t see much more than a food source or a pretty piece of nature.
But nowadays, mushrooms and other fungi are not just assets in nature, they are becoming assets for businesses too.
Fungi are a great source of biomaterials, fertilisers, supplements and alternative food sources. In fact, this niche product is now attracting a lot of attention from investors and scientists and growing into a big market.
How Is Fungi Being Used By Startups?
Mycelium, the structure which makes up fungi is now being used by companies in a number of ways:
Packaging: Mycelium, due to its strong fibres, makes a great sustainable packaging. This has been explored as an biodegradable eco-alternative to plastic and cardboard.
Food: We know about mushrooms as food, but fungi has also been used as the basis of vegan foods like alternative meat and dairy products.
Clothing materials: The structure of mycelium has led it to be explored as a new clothing material. Particularly good for leather style goods without needing to use animal skin.
To bring these use cases to life, here are some startups innovating in the space:
Mycoworks
Mycoworks is a biotechnology company that uses mycelium to create high-quality fashion materials.
Their main product, Reishi™, is a leather alternative that looks and feels the same, without needing to use animal skin. By creating a high-quality leather alternative, the company is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable fashion materials.
Ecovative
Ecovative uses mycelium to create a number of products that mimic animal products. Their product line includes:
- MyBacon: Slices of mycelium that replicate bacon
- Forager: A leather-like material made from mycelium
- Packaging: Sustainable, durable and biodegradable packaging
- Construction: mycelium-based building products for low-carbon construction
Sixways
Sixways has a range of natural Functional Mushroom blends, designed to taste good with added nutritional benefits.
The company uses a mix of adaptogens, functional mushrooms and vitamins & minerals to help people with better mood, sleep, energy levels and hormone balance.
Maia Farms
Maia Farms is on a mission to change how people consume protein. Using mushroom mycelium ingredients, they have created a range of products designed to maximise taste and minimise environmental impact.
Their product line includes meat alternatives as well as powders that can be used instead of flour. By giving people more sustainable options, they are helping to reduce reliance on animal products.
Kynda
Kynda uses the power of mycelium to create a fermentation process that makes a mycoprotein rich in fibre and protein. The product, which is more nutrient dense than other methods, can be used to turn agricultural by-products into real food sources.
By upcycling these products, the company is helping to reduce food waste, create a more sustainable bioeconomy and help combat food scarcity globally.
Myco Technology
Myco Technology is on a mission to create better tasting and more nutrient rich foods. By using mushrooms and truffles, the company has created a range of products that come with nutritional benefits.
Their product line includes coffee, a truffle honey for sweetening, meat alternatives and plant proteins to give people better alternatives to popular foods.
Four Sigmatic
Four Sigmatic has created an original mushroom coffee that gives you focus, without the jitters.
With premium taste and a more controlled caffeine high, the company is using mushrooms to give people a morning cup of coffee, with added health benefits.
Wild Earth
Wild Earth is a dog supplement company that uses medicinal mushrooms to create blends that support a healthy gut in dogs.
The company is on a mission to create good quality pet food with added nutritional benefits. Cruelty free and packed with benefits, it uses the power of mushrooms to help dogs get the vitamins they need.
