Spiber
Spiber is a Japanese biotech company that uses precision fermentation to produce Brewed Protein™ fiber as a sustainable alternative to animal-derived textile proteins, supplying fashion brands, automotive manufacturers, and food ingredient companies globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersTsuruoka, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Spiber does
Spiber Inc. is a Japanese biotechnology company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, that develops and manufactures Brewed Protein™ fiber — a recombinant structural protein material produced via precision fermentation of plant-based sugars using microbial hosts. The company's core technology eliminates the need for traditional animal farming to produce protein-based textile fibers, yielding quantifiable environmental benefits of 79% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 97% lower water usage, 99% lower land use, and 82% lower eutrophication versus conventional cashmere, validated through life cycle assessment. Its vertical integration spans R&D at its Tsuruoka headquarters, polymer production at a Bonsucro-certified sugarcane-fed plant in Thailand, and spinning operations in Japan.
The company's commercial surface spans four primary revenue streams: B2B material supply to fashion brands (40+ brands across 200+ items including Stella McCartney, Goldwin/THE NORTH FACE, JNBY Group, PANGAIA, Iris van Herpen, and A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE), licensing and royalty arrangements for branded applications, direct consumer product sales in Japan (Spiber Tee 001 via official LINE account, retail prices JPY 9,900–143,000), and emerging food protein ingredient development targeting CPG and pet food applications. Distribution is primarily B2B through brand partnerships supplemented by trade show presence (Pitti Immagine Filati, Milano Unica, Seoul Premium Textile, Biofab Fair), with limited direct-to-consumer reach in Japan via LINE storefront and pop-up installations such as Hankyu Men's Osaka.
Spiber's go-to-market emphasizes enterprise field sales with collaborative material development, runway placements at Paris Fashion Week, Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, and Pitti Immagine Uomo, and co-development partnerships to seed brand adoption. In April 2026, the company executed a corporate restructuring creating 'New Spiber' under new CEO Maya Kawana, with the founders stepping back from management to refocus on technical challenges — an explicit pivot toward monetization and commercial scale-up following cumulative disclosed funding of approximately $1 billion across 18+ rounds since founding.
Spiber firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spiber
- Legal name
- Spiber Inc.
- Website
- https://spiber.inc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Spiber is a Japanese biotech company that uses precision fermentation to produce Brewed Protein™ fiber as a sustainable alternative to animal-derived textile proteins, supplying fashion brands, automotive manufacturers, and food ingredient companies globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spiber industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biomaterials / Protein Fiber Materials
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Knit Fabric Mills (31324)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation) (AFAJAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kombucha & Other Fermented Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AFAFABAK), Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks) (AFAJAJAC)
Keywords
Where Spiber is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tsuruoka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Spiber business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Material Sales to Fashion Brands: Spiber supplies Brewed Protein™ fiber to fashion brands for incorporation into their products, generating revenue through material supply agreements and licensing of their technology for branded applications.
- Direct Product Sales: Sale of branded products including Spiber Tee 001 sold through official LINE account in Japan, representing their first official consumer product.
- Food Protein Ingredients: Revenue from developing and supplying functional food proteins using precision fermentation technology to CPG brands, ingredient companies, and pet food manufacturers seeking animal-free protein alternatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Spiber Tee 001 with Brewed Protein™ - Basic T-shirt with 7% protein fiber blend |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Spiber Logo Tee 001 with Brewed Protein™ - Branded T-shirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MR DQ Tee 001 with Brewed Protein™ - Special Design T-shirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brewed Protein™ Capsule T-Shirt - Special collection with graphic designs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | STRING HOLTER TOP IN PROTEIN MIXED COTTON by JUUKIFF |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SIDE SLIT SKORT IN PROTEIN MIXED COTTON by JUUKIFF |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DISCOVERED WOOL & BOA MA-1 Jacket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LIBRIO MENDONÇA GARMENT-DYED SWEATSHIRT HOODIE |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids GLOW GROW CAMP CAP |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Spiber product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spiber develops and manufactures Brewed Protein™ fiber, a recombinant structural protein produced through precision fermentation of plant-based sugars (notably sugarcane). The fiber is sold as a material input to fashion, outdoor, and automotive brands for blending with cotton, wool, silk, and polyester, and is also being extended into protein-based finishing agents, leather-like surface sheets, and functional food protein ingredients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Brewed Protein™: Spiber's proprietary protein fiber brand produced through precision fermentation technology.
Products and services
- Brewed Protein™ Fiber
Quantifiable outcome
- 79% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional cashmere
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Spiber
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Spiber technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Spiber partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Stella McCartneycoreOver four-year collaboration on material development for luxury fashion collections. Spiber supplies ultra-fine Brewed Protein™ fiber (12-14 microns) for Winter 2026 Paris Fashion Week collection, representing a flagship partnership in sustainable luxury fashion.
- JUUKIFFminorSeoul-based knitwear brand launching WHOLEGARMENT knitwear in protein mixed cotton (90% cotton, 10% Brewed Protein™ fiber) for Spring/Summer 2026 collection, following SS2025 collaboration.
- A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKEminorTYPE-XI Spiber project featuring bolero and long dress using undyed Brewed Protein™ fiber in weft, leveraging differential shrinkage for three-dimensional pleated texture.
- The Good Food Institute (GFI)minorListed on GFI's industry platform recognizing Spiber as an alternative protein innovator. GFI is a nonprofit advancing sustainable food systems through alternative protein research and industry development.
- Bonmax Co., Ltd.coreSpiber's first official product partnership for Spiber Tee 001, combining Bonmax's uniform expertise with Brewed Protein™ fiber. Bonmax handles manufacturing, inventory, and fulfillment with small-lot ordering from 1 piece.
- CORDE by (Toyota Coniq Pro)coreFirst commercial application of Brewed Protein™ fiber in mobility sector. Land Cruiser Prado NEWSCAPE features seat covers using the material, developed jointly with The North Face and Spiber, targeting spring 2026 release.
- JNBY GroupcoreFirst Chinese fashion brands (JNBY and CROQUIS) to adopt Brewed Protein™ fiber in their products. Collaboration includes wool coats using fine wool blended with protein fiber, marking Spiber's entry into Chinese consumer market through brand partnerships.
- Untouched WorldminorNew Zealand sustainable fashion brand launching Spring/Summer 2025 collection with four products in 90% organic cotton / 10% Brewed Protein™ blend, first launch in New Zealand.
- BiofabricateminorParticipation in The Biofab Fair 2025 in London, organized by leading global platform for biomaterials. Spiber showcased protein-based finish and surface material prototypes.
- IN HOUSEminorFirst US-born brand to adopt Brewed Protein™ fiber, launching suiting collection with six tailored pieces in wool blend featuring the material. Available through made-to-order system in the US.
- Goldwin (THE NORTH FACE)coreLongstanding partnership since 2015 for outdoor apparel development including The Sweater, MOON PARKA, Regenerative Circle collection, Shell jacket, Goldwin 0, J.L-A.L collaboration, and Sashiko Collection.
- Iris van HerpenminorFirst collaboration with Dutch couture designer for bridal look presented at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week AW2025, exploring innovative expressions of Brewed Protein™ fiber in haute couture.
- YUIMA NAKAZATOminorParis Couture Week collaboration presenting Spring/Summer 2024 collection using Brewed Protein™ fiber in innovative couture designs.
- PANGAIAminorNXT GEN Hoodie collaboration combining Brewed Protein™ fiber with organic cotton for sustainable athleisure products.
- Hikaru UtadaminorFirst material development team participation in artist tour wardrobe, providing costumes for HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024.
- BonsucrominorGlobal sustainability platform membership ensuring sugarcane-derived sugars meet environmental and social standards for Spiber's Thailand polymer production.
- Archroma, Marzotto Group, Pangaia (BioCircular Materials Alliance)coreMulti-stakeholder initiative led by Spiber to build circular economy ecosystem for industrial biomaterials, promoting recycling and biomass circularity across fashion and other industries.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Spiber competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bolt Threads: Bolt Threads is the closest direct competitor to Spiber, developing fermentation-derived silk-like proteins (e.g., Microsilk, b-silk) for fashion and beauty applications. Both companies commercialize precision-fermented structural proteins targeting the same luxury and sustainable fashion customer base.
- AMSilk: AMSilk produces spider silk-inspired protein fibers via precision fermentation for textile and biomedical applications. It competes head-to-head with Spiber's Brewed Protein in offering bio-based, high-performance protein fibers to apparel and consumer goods brands.
- Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow develops bio-fabricated protein-based materials, including leather alternatives using engineered proteins. It overlaps with Spiber's precision fermentation protein platform and protein-based surface materials targeting fashion and automotive customers.
- Geltor: Geltor produces animal-free proteins via precision fermentation for beauty, food, and personal care applications. While focused on different end markets than Spiber's fiber business, it shares the underlying fermentation protein technology platform and food/cosmetic protein ingredient expansion strategy.
Emerging players
- Perfect Day: Perfect Day is a precision fermentation company producing animal-free dairy proteins (whey and casein). Although end-use differs (food vs. textiles), it shares Spiber's core precision fermentation technology stack and demonstrates the commercial viability of fermentation-derived protein ingredients at scale.
- Ecovative Design: Ecovative grows mycelium-based materials for packaging, food, and leather alternatives (Mylo). It overlaps with Spiber in the bio-fabricated materials category targeting sustainable fashion and offers an alternative fermentation-based route to next-gen materials.
- VitroLabs: VitroLabs grows cell-cultured (fermentation-adjacent) leather from animal cells, targeting luxury fashion and automotive interiors. It competes with Spiber's emerging protein-based surface materials in the leather-alternative category for fashion and mobility.
- Keel Labs: Keel Labs (formerly AlgiKnit) develops seaweed-derived kelp-based fibers as sustainable textile alternatives. It targets similar fashion brands seeking next-gen sustainable materials and represents a competing biomaterials approach to Spiber's fermentation proteins.
- MycoTechnology: MycoTechnology uses fungal fermentation to develop food ingredients and protein solutions. It shares Spiber's fermentation-derived protein platform expertise and food protein ingredient expansion ambitions, including allergen-free and functional protein positioning.
- Ananas Anam: Ananas Anam produces Piñatex, a pineapple-leaf-based leather alternative used by major fashion brands (e.g., Hugo Boss, H&M). It represents an adjacent biomaterials peer in the sustainable fashion materials space where Spiber competes with Brewed Protein.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spiber social profiles
Digital presenceSpiber financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spiber leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Spiber funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds18 records
Investors21 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spiber M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Spiber
What does Spiber do?
Spiber develops and manufactures Brewed Protein™ fiber, a recombinant structural protein produced through precision fermentation of plant-based sugars (notably sugarcane). The fiber is sold as a material input to fashion, outdoor, and automotive brands for blending with cotton, wool, silk, and polyester, and is also being extended into protein-based finishing agents, leather-like surface sheets, and functional food protein ingredients.
Is Spiber a public or private company?
Spiber is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Spiber founded?
Spiber was founded in 2007. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Spiber based?
Spiber is headquartered in Tsuruoka, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Spiber make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Material Sales to Fashion Brands are the primary driver. The others are direct Product Sales and food Protein Ingredients.
Who are Spiber's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bolt Threads, AMSilk, Modern Meadow and Geltor. Emerging players are Perfect Day, Ecovative Design, VitroLabs, Keel Labs, MycoTechnology and Ananas Anam.
Does Spiber have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spiber.
What industry is Spiber in?
Spiber's product category is Biomaterials / Protein Fiber Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAH, Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation), with a secondary code of AFAFABAK, Kombucha & Other Fermented Non-Alcoholic Beverages. Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2080.