TomTex

Based in New York, TomTex develops bio-based alternatives to faux and animal leather, using waste shells of crustaceans such as shrimp and lobster as well as waste mushrooms and coffee grounds. TomTex uses its proprietary technology to extract “chitosan”, a common biopolymer found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, to create a mixture from the waste shells and then colors it with natural sources like coffee and charcoal. TomTex then cures the mixture in a clay-based or a 3D-printed mold, allowing to create customized textural finishes including snakeskin-like and crocodile-like leather. The company claims that its material looks and feels like real leather, is naturally water-resistant (can be enhanced by coating with bee wax), is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, and minimizes toxic chemical usage. In November 2023, the company announced that it had recently produced an initial run of 100 linear feet of continuous, roll-to-roll material, with plans to scale up 10 times larger in the coming weeks.

Key Customers and Partnerships:

As of April 2022, the company is conducting discussions for product trials with large brands and designers in New York and plans to expand its offering beyond the luxury leather goods segment to include the consumer electronics and automotive industries.

Funding and Financials:

In November 2023 , the company secured USD 2.25 million to expand its operations in a funding round led by Happiness Capital. Earlier in April 2022 , the company raised USD 1.7 million in pre-seed funding led by SOSV. The funding would support expanding the team and commercializing its product.