Why we invested in Werewool

I’m excited to announce that Werewool has closed a $3.7M Series Seed, co-led by Material Impact and Sofinnova Partners.

At Material Impact, we are committed to investing in deep tech innovation that has the capacity to solve enduring, large-scale, real-world problems. Our newest portfolio company, Werewool, does just that by leveraging the power of material science to usher the fashion industry into the next generation of bio-manufacturing.

Werewool’s disruptive patented technology embeds performance attributes directly into fiber. Instead of using plastic to achieve properties and function, they use protein structures found in nature. Werewool does this by combining a biopolymer material with protein engineering to produce fibers that are functional and biodegradable. These fibers can be produced without harmful chemicals or synthetic materials that make the textile industry one of the largest contributors to accelerating climate change.

The fashion industry has a massive impact on the environment — from the production of raw materials to the manufacturing process and disposal of garments at the end of their life cycle. It is responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions which is more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. The production of cotton requires vast amounts of water, often in areas where water resources are scarce. Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon, are derived from non-renewable fossil fuels and are not biodegradable, where they persist in the environment for hundreds of years. An estimated 92 million tons of textile waste generated annually often ends up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Customers have become more aware of this, and there is a heightened demand for sustainable clothing and textile materials. Initially, technologies in the textile industry were focused on reducing waste by increasing recyclability and circularity of fibers that are mostly plastic. As synthetic biology has become more accessible to main stay industries like food and fashion, we are seeing new technologies — like Werewool — that are uniquely positioned to help make the fashion industry be more environmentally friendly by eliminating downstream issues like microplastics at the source.

When I first met the Werewool team, I was initially drawn to how informed they were on the process of turning fibers and yarns to textiles and finished apparel which is not a simple process. I believe part of bringing innovation to the fashion industry is to be able to understand these complexities and challenges so that companies like Werewool are in a better position to meet customer needs and drive commercial adoption.

Werewool’s technology and team has origins in science and fashion, putting them in the best position to create products that are highly innovative while also resonating with major fashion brands and consumers. I believe that it’s their passion for sustainable fashion, combined with their patented crosslinking protein and biopolymer technology that will take them far.

I’m thrilled to partner with them on this journey. Learn more about Werewool and the team here.