Spiber – Japanese startup creates “spider silk”: Harder than steel, more flexible than nylon, easy to biodegrade and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, attracting investors around the world

Tram Ho

The start-up Spiber was founded in 2007 to advance research into synthetic spider silk by Keio University’s Institute for Advanced Biosciences. Researchers have developed a technology to produce synthetic proteins, then spin them into fibers that are four times stronger than steel but more flexible than nylon. This unique product attracts about 1,000 people to visit the company every year.

Brewed Protein is the company’s signature product, an ingredient produced through a proprietary fermentation process. The product is made by feeding bacteria with plant-based sugars such as glucose and produces protein through fermentation.

Spiber - startup Nhật Bản tạo ra sợi tơ nhện: Cứng hơn thép, dẻo hơn nylon, dễ phân huỷ sinh học và giảm phát thải nhà kính, thu hút nhà đầu tư khắp thế giới - Ảnh 1.

This protein is made into a durable, environmentally friendly fiber that can be used to make a wide range of products such as clothing, medical devices and automated machines. Unlike polyester, nylon and other petrochemical fibers, Brewed Protein is biodegradable and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Spiber hopes the product can be used in a variety of synthetics industries and meet 15% to 20% of global synthetic fiber demand.

Spiber’s yarn product, called Qmonos, from the Japanese word for “kumonosu” (spider web), attracted an investment of 2.5 billion yen ($20.9 million) from Shinsei Bank.

Spiber has also raised 5 billion yen ($44.1 million) to build a new facility in Thailand to begin mass production of Brewed Protein. The plant has an expected capacity 100 times larger than the test plant in Japan

The money was raised from the Cool Japan Fund and other investors, pushing Spiber’s capital to 22.4 billion yen, one of the highest levels of investment for unlisted Japanese startups. Copy.

Spiber - startup Nhật Bản tạo ra sợi tơ nhện: Cứng hơn thép, dẻo hơn nylon, dễ phân huỷ sinh học và giảm phát thải nhà kính, thu hút nhà đầu tư khắp thế giới - Ảnh 2.

Spiber chose Thailand in part because it can provide abundant sources of raw materials needed for the production process. On the other hand, the low cost of ingredients in Southeast Asian countries is an advantage that allows them to produce Brewed Protein for less than $100/kg. The country is also a major hub for clothing and auto manufacturers, two of Spiber’s main targets.

Apparel is the company’s first market. Goldwin, the Japanese company that makes sportswear for The North Face, sold limited edition T-shirts and sweaters made with Brewed Protein in 2019 and 2020, but the prices were steep. Qmonos yarn has a high production cost that has hindered commercialization, mass production in the Thai factory will help this material be accessible to many.

Spiber is setting its next sights on the auto industry. Brewed Protein could appeal to automakers to make their vehicles lighter to save fuel. Toyota Motor affiliated parts manufacturers Kojima Industries and Toyota Boshoku have invested in Spiber.

Spiber also received 34.4 billion yen ($312 million) from investors led by US-based private equity firm Carlyle Group. The funding raised Spiber’s market value to 139.7 billion yen (about $1.26 billion).

Carlyle Group will connect Spiber with potential overseas business partners and will assist in the initial public offering.

Spiber is preparing to mass-produce its products for overseas markets with the help of Carlyle’s experience and connections. In the United States, Spiber has partnered with corn processor Archer-Daniels-Midland to build a Brewed Protein plant. Mass production will be as early as 2023.

Few Japanese startups have been able to raise such large amounts of money. The biotech industry is proving to be an attractive investment for venture capitalists as it has the potential to produce hugely profitable technology. However, Japan is still lagging behind the US and major European countries in mobilizing venture capital in the biotechnology sector.

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Source : Genk