Vegan leather is often criticised for its reliance on fossil-fuel derived plastics. But US biotech company Bucha Bio has found a solution — bacterial nanocellulouse.
Bucha Bio Closes Oversubscribed $1.1M Round for Sustainable Plant-Based Leather
US-based biomaterials company Bucha Bio has raised $1.1 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round. Bucha will use the funding to accelerate the market launch of its biobased materials made from bacterial nanocellulose. This will include securing co-manufacturers to scale production, making new hires, and constructing state-of-the-art headquarters in Houston. The company is developing two bio-based materials: SHORAI™, which is an alternative to leather; and HIKARI™, a translucent material said to have unique processing capabilities. Bucha also continues to work on new technologies, including biofibres, biopackaging, and hard biocomposites. These materials could be used across various industries, such as fashion, automotive, home goods, electronics, and construction. Investors in Bucha’s seed round included New Climate Ventures, Lifely VC, Beni VC, Alwyn Capital, and Chris Zarou, CEO …