KPMG the audit, tax, and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative (KPMG International). KPMG International’s member firms have 145,000 professionals, including more than 8,000 partners, in 152 countries. KPMG employees distribute donated books in Paterson, NJ KPMG delivers a globally consistent set of multidisciplinary services based on deep industry knowledge. The industry focus helps KPMG professionals develop a rich understanding of client's businesses and the insight, skills, and resources required to address industry-specific issues and opportunities.   Their history spans three centuries and features a number of significant mergers, most recently the combination of Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler, and their individual member firms, into KPMG in 1987. KPMG global member firm combined revenues totaled $22.7 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, a 10.1 percent increase in U.S. dollars, or 6.2 percent in local currency terms.  Global revenue by function and region can be found in KPMG's International Annual Review.

KPMG

All Things Commerce works with Brands in the field of E-commerce. We see E-Commerce as commerce in the Internet-era, not only as web stores. We use the strengths of the brand to build up the fan base, create optimal messaging and a working profitable e-commerce ecosystem.   All Things Moomin is our first international case and we're currently working on several other projects.   Get in touch with us on LinkedIn to find out how we can build and expand your online store presence.

Moomin

Kiilto Ventures is a family-owned company. Kiilto invests strongly in growth and renewal, determined to keep on reinventing and challenging themselves beyond their present core business.

Kiilto Ventures

Voima Ventures’ mission is to solve major global problems by combining science, entrepreneurship, and value adding capital. They shed light on the ideas and technology which require time and courage to build. Industry domains include bio and new materials, medical technologies and life sciences, imaging and optics, IoT and electronics, robotics, software & ICT and AI. In addition, Voima Ventures has invested in more than 30 deep tech startups, including companies like Solar Foods, Infinited Fiber Company, and Dispelix. Cornerstone investors are VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and European Investment Fund (EIF), backed by Finnish private and institutional investors.

Voima Ventures

Lifeline Ventures Oy is a venture capital firm specializing in startups, growth capital, and early stage investments. The firm seeks to invest in healthcare, games, web based and general high technology sectors. It seeks to invest in Finland with a few investments made outside Finland as well. The firm targets investing between €0.5 million ($0.66 million) and €1 million ($1.32 million). It seeks make inception to Series A investments. Lifeline Ventures Oy was founded in November 2009 and is based in Helsinki, Finland.

Lifeline Ventures

Batofin operates as a single-family office. Batofin provides a wide range of services to clients including financial consultation, accounting and property management as well as other family office services.

Batofin

Security Trading operates as an investment firm.

Security Trading

Origin by Ocean

Origin by Ocean is a platform-based algae refining company that creates a business ecosystem based on farmed and harvested algae, which they transform into ingredients used in the manufacture of everyday consumer goods. Its biorefinery technology converts eutrophication of the oceans, a global environmental problem, into functional products.

Finnish startup Origin by Ocean cultivates and harvests algae to transform them into chemical ingredients that can be used in the manufacturing of common consumer products. The company’s patented biorefining technique extracts value-adding bio-based chemicals from harvested invasive algae and sustainably cultivated seaweed within a single industrial process. As of August 2023, the company has developed six ingredients to replace traditional chemical components in certain sectors, including food and beverages, cosmetics, personal hygiene, textiles, and even livestock fodder in agriculture.

Earth-friendly biotech solutions for the textile, packaging and construction industries.

Bio-based Materials

Origin by Ocean’s Post

Finnish startup Origin by Ocean cultivates and harvests algae to transform them into chemical ingredients that can be used in the manufacturing of common consumer products. The company’s patented biorefining technique extracts value-adding bio-based chemicals from harvested invasive algae and sustainably cultivated seaweed within a single industrial process. As of August 2023, the company has developed six ingredients to replace traditional chemical components in certain sectors, including food and beverages, cosmetics, personal hygiene, textiles, and even livestock fodder in agriculture.Between 2020 and 2022, the company concentrated on industrial piloting, developing multiple proof of concepts and creating its initial trial batch. Moving forward from 2022 to 2023, the company's primary focus had been on upscaling process integration and expanding its feedstock ecosystem, aiming to secure its first commercial agreements and off-take agreements with customers. Over 2024 to 2025, the company planned on making small-scale product deliveries to customers and initiating plans for a biorefinery plant. By 2025, the company planned to commence commercial production, with the establishment of its first industrial-scale biorefinery plant near the Baltic Sea. As part of its long-term strategy, the company aimed for global expansion by 2027 and achieving EUR 500 million (~USD 533 million) in sales via global sales by 2030.Key customers and partnershipsIn July 2023, the company partnered with Finnnish textile and home furnishing company Marimekko to replace synthetic thickener in the print paste. Via the pilot project, it printed a range of textile products using Origin by Ocean's Caerulo alginate, a print paste thickener derived from marine biomass found in the Dominican Republic.Funding and financialsIn April 2023, the company raised EUR 7.5 million (~USD 8 million) in seed funding from main investors <a href="https://voimaventures.com/">Voima Ventures </a>and <a href="https://www.lifelineventures.com/">Lifeline Ventures </a>and <a href="http://www.batofin.fi/">Batofin </a>and Security Trading to build the commercialization and production capabilities of the company.

<div>
 
 Bolt Threads manufactures vegan &ldquo;spider&rdquo; silk and mycelium-based materials. Bolt Threads develops isolated silk proteins from proteins inspired by spider silk through a yeast fermentation process. The company&rsquo;s Microsilk products are sold under its clothing brand, Best Made Co. The company has also developed another biomaterial using mushroom-based mycelium, an alternative leather product branded as Mylo, which was expected to be produced on a larger scale.&nbsp;
 
 
 In September 2021, Bolt Threads announced its plans to produce Mylo on a commercial scale by the end of 2022 and expected to collaborate with mushroom farmers to heighten its mycelium crops. Though the company reported 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19867">
 halting production of Mylo
 </a>
 in June 2023 due to inflationary pressure and lack of funding, in October 2023, the company announced entering a 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22431">
 SPAC deal
 </a>
 to go public on the Nasdaq.&nbsp;
 
 
 For its Microsilk product, Bolt had a production capacity of 32,000 sq ft per annum as of 2018. Since Microsilk remains significantly more expensive than traditional silk, the founders were seeking ways to scale up.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 For its Microsilk product, Bolt Threads launched its first collaboration in 2017 with fashion designer Stella McCartney and introduced its second prototype in the form of a biodegradable tennis dress.
 &nbsp;
 
 
 The leather alternative Mylo has been used in collaborations with Stella McCartney, Seattle-based leather bag manufacturer Chester Wallace, and Canadian athletic apparel retailer Lululemon. In October 2020, the Mylo Consortium was also formed including Adidas, Stella McCartney, Kering, and Lululemon, who collectively have made a seven-figure investment into Bolt Threads to produce Mylo. In return for their investments, these brands would have access to a large supply of the product.&nbsp;
 
 
 Stella McCartney has been experimenting with Mylo to create clothing prototypes with plans to use the material in upcoming collections. Adidas used Mylo to produce high-performance footwear for the first time in April 2021 by making a vegan version of its &ldquo;Stan Smith&rdquo; sneaker design that dates back to 1965 and had plans to expand the use of Mylo material in its other products including handbags, wallets, shoes, jackets. In February 2022, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8404">
 Lululemon
 </a>
 launched a Mylo-based yoga bag collection, which included a multipurpose yoga bag and a storage bag for workout gear. Mylo was also used by Danish luxury brand Ganni for the launch of its limited edition Mylo-based wallet range and one-of-a-kind saddle-bags in June 2022. Ganni&rsquo;s partnership with Bolt Threads included plans to release more Mylo-based products in Q1 2023. With growing demand for its Mylo product, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8884">
 in February 2022, 
 </a>
 the company partnered with Mycelium Materials Europe (MME) for the commercial production of Mylo but had not been able to materialize its plans.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s last funding round was a USD 123 million Series D in January 2018 led by Baillie Gifford. The funds were used to commercialize the company&rsquo;s Microsilk&nbsp;products.
 
 
 
</div>

Bolt Threads

MycoWorks is a manufacturer of alternative leather using mushroom-based fungi. Its proprietary brand, Reishi, is manufactured using a patented process called “Fine Mycelium”, which uses fungi’s capacity to bind to itself and carbon-based materials in producing durable three-dimensional material. The benefits of Reishi, according to MycoWorks, include its tensile strength (the force needed to pull material to its breaking point) at 10 Megapascals (MPa), compared to the average cowhide tensile strength of 8.5 MPa. Reishi is also customizable (in terms of sizing and specifications) allowing growing direct-to-design products that eliminate waste from cutting and trimming.Mycoworks operates three Reishi plants as of January 2022. The third plant in California has an annual production capacity of 80,000 sq ft of material per year, increased the company’s production tenfold, and reportedly reached a milestone of producing 10,000 trays of Fine Mycelium after a year of operation. The company is also building a new USD 107 million worth manufacturing facility in Union, South Carolina, with operations expected to commence in 2023. The new facility reportedly is expected to produce several million sq ft of Fine Mycelium per year. In August 2023, the company announced opening a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20757">136,000 square foot plant </a>&nbsp;which will produce Reishi that has been embraced by luxury brands like Hermès and Ligne Roset for various applications and was expected to begin operation on September 20, 2023.Reishi remains in the prototype development and testing phase. The company announced that the material is currently being tested in clothing, shoe, wallet, and handbag design. Key customers and partnershipsThe company indicated in November 2020 that the first luxury fashion and footwear products containing Reishi will be launched in partnership with leading fashion and footwear brands in the coming months. MycoWorks also partnered with Hermès, the French luxury goods manufacturer, in March 2021 to use a material named “Sylvania”(a Fine Mycelium-based material developed by the two companies over three years) in a sustainable version of Hermès’s “Victoria” travel bag, by the end of 2021. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24584">November 2023</a>, the company partnered with YUME YUME for interactive Reishi-based installation at Stedelijk Museum. Funding and financials<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7804">In January 2022</a>, MycoWorks raised USD 125 million in a Series C funding round led by Prime Movers Lab. The funding was expected to accelerate commercial production of Reishi and support in R&amp;D, technology development, and hiring new employees.

MycoWorks

Checkerspot is a manufacturer of microalgae-based performance materials which are used to produce consumer products, including skis and surfboards. The company modifies microalgae’s genes to derive new molecular building blocks and then bioengineers production of consumer products. Microbes are optimized to biomanufacture unique, natural structural oils that were previously not accessible on a viable, commercial scale. The company’s primary focus is on high-performance polyurethanes and coatings made from bio-based oil via fabrication.The company’s commercialized products include Algal Core (a light-weight urethane-based composite) and Algal Wall (cast urethane), both products are offered under the WNDR Alpine brand while algal oil is sold under the miDori bioWick. In February 2021, WNDR Alpine, Checkerspot’s outdoor brand, received the B Corp Certification, private certification granted to for-profit companies by the B Lab, a global non-profit organization formed to support the movement of using businesses as a force for good. Key customers and partnershipsThe company has partnered with Beyond Surface Technologies (BST) to commercialize miDori BioWick, an algal oil used in BST’s wicking textile finish. As of August 2020, the company’s co-development partners also included W.L. Gore and DIC Corporation.Funding and financialsIn its latest funding round in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16362">February 2023, </a>Checkerspot raised USD 55 million in Series C funding led by ArrowMark Partners to accelerate the development and commercialization of biobased alternatives for everyday products and expand into markets, such as industrial applications, personal care, and food and nutrition.

Checkerspot

Mi Terro converts milk waste into sustainable yarn, using a self-developed technology known as Pro-Act that extracts casein protein molecules from milk. The protein is purified and undergoes a dynamic flow shear spinning process, converting the casein to sustainable fiber. The resulting yarn is claimed to be three times softer than cotton and has applications in textiles, food packaging, bedding, personal care, and medical sectors. Mi Terro has also developed a limited-release ocean-waste duffle bag. Key customers and partnershipsThe company has partnered with Nike, Danone, Toyoshima, DFA, Mitsubishi, Lair East Labs, Dole, Budweiser, and Harada. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23179">October 2023</a>, the company partnered with Lipton to develop dissolvable tea pods. Funding and financialsThe company completed two rounds of funding in 2020, raising USD 100,000 in January 2020 and USD 50,000 in March 2020. In January 2021, the company also won the Meda Million Dollar Challenge and received a USD 300,000 prize. In March 2022, the company raised USD 1.5 million in a Seed round led by Astanor to scale up production.

Mi Terro

Modern Meadow develops collagen-based materials from plant proteins, using a range of biofabrication processes including the creation of bio alloys, solution dyeing, protein design, and fermentation. The focus of the company is on the luxury branded market with its fully biodegradable proprietary brand, “ZOA”. Modern Meadow also reports that it is developing “Bioleather1 (BL1)”, an alternative to chrome tanned bovine leather made using its proprietary BioAlloy process. According to research published by the company in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8431">February 2022 </a>, BL1 reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and 20% compared to traditional and synthetic leather respectively. It also reduces water consumption from groundwater sources, land use, and the subsequent degradation of water bodies during the process by 95% compared to conventional leather production.In April 2020, Modern Meadow announced plans to commence commercial production later that year and was actively looking for manufacturing partners. As of the same date, Modern Meadow employed between 70-90 staff at its 72,000 sq ft factory in New Jersey.Key customers and partnershipsModern Meadow announced a partnership with Evonik in March 2018, to develop and scale-up the commercial production of fermentation-based products.In April 2021, the company reported that it would announce collaborations with fashion brands and industry partners during the following six to nine months. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15657">January 2023 </a>, Modern Meadow partnered with Taiwan-based sustainable fabric company, Singtex to develop biomaterials for various applications, beginning with a sustainable, waterproof, membrane-based material for the outdoor apparel market. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16786">February 2023 </a>, the company partnered with US luxury brand, Tory Burch, to launch Tory Burch’s first plant-based leather alternative tote, the Ella Bio, powered by Modern Meadow technology, Bio-Alloy.In June 2023, it also formed a strategic partnership with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19178">Navis TubeTex </a>, a provider of textile machinery, to develop a sustainable textile manufacturing process. During the same month, it also formed a strategic partnership with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19868">BASF </a>to create an animal-free material called Bio-VERA that replicates the look, feel, and aging properties of traditional leather, suede, or chamois.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30500">June 2024</a>, the company partnered with Earthletica to unveil the Bronte Jacket which used Bio-Alloy Shield technology.Funding and financialsIn April 2021, the company raised USD 130 million in a Series C funding round led by Key Partners Capital to (i) develop the company's biofabrication technology, used in creating an alternative to fossil-fuel-based textile coatings; and (ii) scale-up and commercialize its collagen-based leather material.

Modern Meadow

Developers of materials with applications across apparel, automobile, home goods, etc.

Developers of non-leather material alternatives such as wool, silk, and viscose—mostly for apparel

Developers of alternatives to plastic and other materials used in packaging

Developers of alternative materials for industrial applications such as sporting goods, electronic components, and automotive parts

Reuses waste to create bio-based materials

Sustainable alternatives to materials like animal leather, silk, plastic

Origin by Ocean

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