When mushrooms meet fashion? Meet MYCL (aka, Mycotech Lab)! They're an Indonesian biotech startup that creates a mushroom-based alternative to leather.

Sure, outfits made of their mushroom-based leather have walked Paris Fashion Week, but they've got a new achievement. They've just raised a $1.2M Pre-Series A!

Investor check. AgFunder, Temasek Lifesciences Accelerator, Fashion for Good, Third Derivative, Lifely VC and Rumah Group joined in.

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🍄 Mushrooms gettin' in style

They grow mushrooms and take their mycelium (aka, thread-like "roots"). That mycelium is used as an adhesive to bind waste like corn husks and wood chips together — and that mixture grows into a leather-like material called Mylea!

Why it's great. Mylea's stronger than leather (and probably most relationships). Fireproof, waterproof and flexible. Need we ask for more?

• Mylea has been used for "leather" jackets, sandals, watch straps and wallets.

Apart from synthetic leather, MYCL uses mycelium to create eco-friendly and sustainable building materials like their Biobo panels.

• These materials are sold to fashion and construction companies.

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🌏 Lookin' good (for the environment)

More importantly, it's super eco-friendly and sustainable! Their mycelium-based products use natural materials like mushrooms and reuse waste. There are tons of benefits!

• It's faster to create. It also uses much less water and carbon emissions!
• Plus, the entire process doesn't use harmful chemicals or heavy metals that can harm waterways and even human health.

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🚀 Next up

With the $$$, they'll be scaling the production of their Mylea material to meet demand. They'll also be opening research laboratories in Japan and Singapore!