The claim for Jen Keen's reputation is that she uses bacteria to raise shoes and adopts microorganisms to accumulate nanocellulose materials into the form of sneakers. But she is like that.
“I feel like that kind of point is missing,” she told TechCrunch. “The fiber generated by bacteria -it is not a new thing.”
That doesn't mean that her new startup does not use those same fibers -that's right -but it requires another tack.
The modern synthesis, which is her startup, is still growing nanocellulose fibers using bacteria, but then harvests and processes them to create various ingredients. The new approach is like incorporating cotton into denim for jeans. On the other hand, her sneakers were like persuading cotton plants to accumulate fibers into pants. It's cool, but it's not easily scalable.
The latest synthetic fibers can be operated in a way that cannot be simple vegetable fibers. According to Keane, a modern cessesis CEO, it can spread to a thin and wind -resistant film to imitate high -quality leather. In this way, they are similar to synthetic materials such as polyester and polyurethane.
However, the difference is that the latest synthesis nanosellulose material is ultimately biodegradable.
“I want your material to last a lifetime or two, as in 100 years, and you don't want them to stick for thousands, it is made by most synthetic materials. Kene, “said Keen.
The basic building block of the startup textiles is cellulose, so what remains after disassembling is similar to what was found on the forest floor. “It should work in the same way as other cellulose materials,” she said. “Cotton is a wonderful example.”
One of the breakthroughs, which encouraged Keane to discover the latest integration with the company's highest technical manager, Ben Reeve, was the ability to create materials using only nanocellulos. For example, other biological materials can imitate leather, but they may need to add some synthetic materials to the mix and separate them well.
Ganni has rebuilt a BOU bag from a material made by modern synthesis. Image credit: Contemporary integration
The latest synthesis is purchased from an existing producer to buy a nanocellulose. It has already manufactured a large amount of things, from food additives to medical implants. After that, the startup processes a different material by processing the nanocellulose. For example, in 2023, we made artificial leather for Ganni, a Danish fashion brand. Ganni was used to make handbags containing petrochemicals.
Keane stated that the company is working on Quintuple Production at a pilot factory. Modern Synthesis has recently closed the $ 5.5 million funding round, exclusively to Techniccrunch. The round was led by Ertantia Capital by participating from the Artesian and Collaborative Fund.
Sneakers, clothing, and handbags are likely to have the latest synthetic materials, but Keane uses science fiction like a more comfortable textile like a smart textile with embedded electronics and a cardash board. We are also considering.
“Cellulose materials do not melt like synthetic substances,” she said. “Considering the dashboard of the car, how will it begin to melt if you sit for a long time in the sun? Our materials will not do it.”