What Modern Meadow does

Modern Meadow is a US-based bio-design company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Nutley, New Jersey, that develops animal-free leather alternatives through proprietary biofabrication technology. Its core platform produces INNOVERA, a next-generation bio-designed material composed of plant-derived proteins, biopolymers, and recycled content (including recycled Nylon 6 sourced from end-of-life tires) with over 80% renewable carbon content. INNOVERA is engineered to replicate the look, feel, and performance of traditional leather while integrating with existing tannery and finishing workflows, and is offered in multiple variants including standard material and suede. The company also launched Bio-VERA in May 2023 as a separate animal-free biomaterial for fashion and industrial applications, and previously divested its recombinant human collagen platform to HTL Biotechnology in May 2024.

The company operates as a B2B material supplier with an OEM-embedded go-to-market model, selling INNOVERA to premium brand partners across fashion (Allbirds Terralux footwear, Melina Bucher handbags), luxury automotive (Mercedes-Benz seating), and European tanneries. In January 2026, Modern Meadow formed the INNOVERA Europe joint venture with HELLER-LEDER to manufacture Dry White semi-finished material for European tanneries serving premium automotive, apparel, and interiors, with production expected to begin in late 2026. Revenue is generated through direct material supply and licensing arrangements with brand customers and manufacturing partners; pricing is set by downstream brand partners and not publicly disclosed.

Modern Meadow has raised approximately $183 million in cumulative funding, including a $130 million Series C in April 2021 led by investors such as Astanor Ventures, Cape Capital AG, and Horizons Ventures. The company employs 51-100 people and markets through B2B trade shows (notably Lineapelle Milan), earned media, and partner co-marketing with brand customers. Current leadership includes CEO David Williamson, with founder Gabor Forgacs as Scientific Founder and Andras Forgacs as Co-founder and Director; Anna Bakst, appointed CEO during the 2021 Series C, now serves as Executive Chair.

Name

Modern Meadow

Legal name

Modern Meadow, Inc.

Website

https://modernmeadow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Modern Meadow is a US-based bio-design company that develops INNOVERA, an animal-free leather alternative made from plant-based proteins and biopolymers, supplying premium fashion, automotive, and tannery customers as a B2B materials platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-based Leather Alternatives (Biofabricated Materials)

NAICS

Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing (316110), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (3169)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100)

akta.pro primary industry

Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium) (IMAOAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Leather, Suede & Alternatives (PU/Bio-based) (CRAAAMAG)

Keywords

• Biofabrication materials
• Animal-free leather
• Biopolymer materials
• Sustainable textiles
• Protein-based materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Nutley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Material Licensing and Sales: Licensing of proprietary INNOVERA bio-design material to brand partners for incorporation into finished products. Revenue generated through material sales to manufacturers in footwear, automotive, and luxury goods sectors.
2. B2B Material Supply: Direct supply of INNOVERA material to brand customers including Allbirds, Mercedes-Benz, and Melina Bucher. Material sold for use in specific product lines.
3. Joint Venture Manufacturing: INNOVERA Europe joint venture with HELLER-LEDER for European production and distribution, with production expected to begin late 2026.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Modern Meadow develops and supplies INNOVERA, a next-generation bio-designed leather alternative made from plant-derived proteins, biopolymers, and recycled content (over 80% renewable carbon). The company licenses and sells this animal-free material to brand partners in footwear, luxury fashion, and premium automotive for incorporation into finished products such as Allbirds footwear, Mercedes-Benz automotive seats, and Melina Bucher handbags. A European joint venture with HELLER-LEDER (INNOVERA Europe) provides regional manufacturing and distribution to tanneries.

Product overview

Modern Meadow is a bio-design company that offers INNOVERA™ as its primary bio-designed leather alternative product. INNOVERA™ is a next-generation sustainable material made from plant-derived proteins, biopolymers, and recycled content (over 80% renewable carbon). The company also launched Bio-VERA in May 2023 as an additional animal-free biomaterial. The product portfolio includes INNOVERA™ in multiple variants (standard material, suede) and applications (footwear via Terralux™ with Allbirds, automotive seats with Mercedes-Benz, luxury accessories with Melina Bucher). A European manufacturing joint venture, INNOVERA™ Europe with HELLER-LEDER, was launched in January 2026 to serve premium automotive, apparel, and interiors segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INNOVERA™: A next-generation bio-designed, animal-free leather alternative made from plant-based proteins, biopolymers, and recycled content with over 80% renewable carbon content
• Bio-VERA

Products and services

• INNOVERA Bio-Design Material A next-generation plant-based, animal-free leather alternative composed of plant-derived proteins, biopolymers, and recycled content. Contains over 80% renewable carbon content and is engineered to replicate the look, feel, and performance of traditional leather while integrating with existing leather tanning and finishing workflows. Sold to brand partners in fashion, automotive, and luxury accessories.
• Bio-VERA

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% renewable carbon content in INNOVERA material
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ISA Next-Gen MaterialsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Partnership for Terralux footwear collection alongside Allbirds, demonstrating cross-industry applications of INNOVERA material platform.
• AllbirdscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 February 2026Allbirds launched Terralux footwear collection featuring INNOVERA material in February 2026, marking the first commercial footwear application of Modern Meadow's plant-based leather alternative. Three styles (Cruiser, Varsity, Runner NZ) priced $135-$145. Partnership represents major commercial milestone for INNOVERA in mass-market footwear.
• HELLER-LEDERcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026INNOVERA Europe joint venture formed in January 2026 to develop and manufacture INNOVERA material at a new state-of-the-art European facility. Production expected to begin in late 2026. Venture designed to serve premium automotive, apparel, and interiors segments with Dry White semi-finished material to tanneries.
• Melina BuchercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025German luxury brand Melina Bucher launched handbags made from INNOVERA animal-free suede in November 2025. Collection features three handbags in deep chocolate tones, marking commercial-scale adoption of bio-fabricated materials in luxury fashion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MycoWorks: Developer of Reishi™, a mycelium-based leather alternative used by luxury brands such as Hermès and Ligne Roset. Directly comparable as a next-gen leather alternative supplier targeting the same fashion, automotive, and luxury end-markets.
• Bolt Threads: Biotech company producing Mylo™ (mycelium-based) and b-silk™ protein-based materials for fashion and beauty. Direct peer in the bio-fabricated leather alternative space with similar B2B GTM to apparel and luxury brands.
• Spiber: Japanese bio-material company producing Brewed Protein™ fibers from plant-based ingredients for apparel and automotive applications. Comparable as a fermentation-based protein material supplier targeting premium brands.
• VitroLabs: Cultivated (cell-based) leather company developing lab-grown animal hides for luxury fashion and automotive. Direct peer in the next-generation leather category with overlapping end-markets.
• Ananas Anam (Piñatex): Producer of Piñatex, a pineapple leaf fiber-based leather alternative used in fashion, footwear, and accessories. Comparable as a plant-based non-leather material supplier targeting sustainable fashion brands.
• Desserto: Mexican company producing cactus-based bio-leather alternatives for fashion, automotive interiors, and footwear. Comparable as a plant-based leather alternative manufacturer serving fashion and automotive verticals.

Emerging players

• Polybion: Bacterial cellulose-based material producer developing Celium™ for fashion and accessories. Emerging player with overlapping end-use applications in animal-free premium materials.
• Beyond Leather Materials: Danish startup producing apple-pulp and plant-based leather alternatives. Comparable as a smaller, emerging plant-based leather alternative supplier targeting fashion brands.

Others

• Geltor: Animal-free protein producer for beauty and personal care via precision fermentation. Adjacent player — uses similar bio-fabrication technology stack but historically focused on collagen proteins rather than leather materials.

Broad incumbents

• Evonik: Global specialty chemicals company and a prior investor in Modern Meadow. Comparable as a broad incumbent in bio-based materials and a potential strategic acquirer or partner with capability in polymer/chemical processing relevant to leather alternatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors23 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Modern Meadow