Mycocycle

Mycocycle is an Illinois-based, female-founded biotechnology startup that transforms industrial waste into new, low-carbon, raw materials, such as fillers and fibers, that are used in the building products industry. The company uses mycelium to break down hard-to-treat materials using its mycoremediation process to manufacture acoustic tile, flooring, concrete, walls, and insulation.

Mycocycle employs a patent-pending approach that takes approximately two weeks and involves initiating a three-step treatment process on-site with manufacturers or contractors utilizing their containerized solution, MYCOntainer, to ensure the controlled processing of toxic waste. The process involves blending lab-cultivated fungi with ground waste materials, allowing incubation and growth over 7–14 days. The resulting fungi are then harvested and transformed into new raw materials. On average, Mycocycle claims its solution can reduce material toxicity by up to 98%.

In addition, the company offers support services such as material testing, hardware and setup, technology licensing, royalty services, and remediation fees. The company’s long-term aims involve achieving full integration with manufacturers through strategic partnerships at their facilities.

As of May 2023, Mycocycle has treated 12,000 lbs of material via paid pilots with customers across the waste management, recycling, and manufacturing sectors, as well as with building owners and contractors like META and Lendlease that are focused on reducing Scope 3 emissions and innovations within their industries. In October 2022, the company along with Lendlease, Rubicon Technologies, and Rockwood Sustainable Solutions completed a partnered pilot involving used asphalt shingles, mushrooms, and mycoremediation technology to reduce construction and demolition waste. As of May 2023, the company is yet to commercialize and is developing its first-generation decentralized treatment container (MYCOntainer), validating the reuse of its biobased byproduct by Q3 2023. 

Mycocyle raised USD 2.2 million in seed funding led by Anthropocene Ventures in May 2023 to establish a model pilot facility.