TômTex is a New York-based sustainable biomaterial producer that makes biodegradable textiles from chitosan, a biopolymer sourced from seafood shells and mushrooms. Its material has been used by designers and brands including Peter Do, Di Petsa, Dauphinette and Maitrepierre at New York and Paris Fashion Weeks. The textile can be custom-moulded, stamped, 3D-printed or embossed in animal leather-style patterns. The company recently achieved a production milestone of 100 linear feet in its initial run and plans to scale to larger-scale production. Founder Uyen Tran said the $2.25M seed will fund team growth, key hires and expanded manufacturing and help secure new contracts and revenue. With this round TômTex has raised $4.15M to date, including a prior $1.9M round. Investors including Happiness Capital, SOSV, Parley for the Oceans, MIH Capital and Earth Venture Capital have expressed support for the company's technology and environmental potential. TômTex produces a biodegradable leather alternative made from chitosan derived from shell seafood and mushroom waste. The material is designed to mimic leather’s look and feel while avoiding petrochemical "vegan leather" and reducing environmental harm. The company is targeting the $400 billion global leather market and is initially focusing on luxury leather goods, developing partnerships with large brands and designers in New York City. TômTex plans to expand beyond luxury goods into apparel and accessories and later into consumer electronics and automotive interior applications as it advances material properties. The startup will use its $1.7M pre-seed funding to bring the product to market and to grow its team beyond the three founders, hiring business development, technical staff, a senior scientist, and marketing/communications. Headquartered in New York City, TômTex emphasizes circularity by using waste-derived feedstocks and water- or ethanol-based processing to avoid harsh chemistries and improve biodegradability.

Total raised

$4M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Nov 2023