Modern Synthesis
Modern Synthesis is a London-based biomaterials company founded in 2020 that produces bacterial nanocellulose materials grown from engineered bacteria, supplying fashion, footwear, and automotive brands as a lower-impact alternative to leather and synthetics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Modern Synthesis does
Modern Synthesis is a London-based biomaterials company founded in 2020 that develops and supplies bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) materials grown from the Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacterium. The company operates a proprietary, patent-pending BNC platform supported by an academic collaboration with Imperial College, and layers a machine-learning-driven material optimization workflow over the wet-lab process to accelerate iteration on properties such as hand-feel, strength, and dye uptake. The commercial proposition targets B2B customers in fashion and, increasingly, automotive interiors, where the material is positioned as a lower-impact, drop-in alternative to leather and synthetic substrates.
The company sells biomaterial sheets and finished prototypes to brand partners on a project and licensing basis rather than through disclosed high-volume contracts. Early commercial showcases include the 2023 GANNI Bou Bag and a BEEN London tote demonstration piece, with a 2025 Korvaa Consortium shoe marking entry into footwear. Revenue conversion has lagged announced timelines, and the company has publicly acknowledged difficulty achieving commercial sales, indicating that to date activity sits in the pilot-to-early-commercial phase supported by a brand waitlist rather than recurring volume.
Modern Synthesis is venture-backed, having raised approximately $4.1M in a June 2022 seed round and $5.5M in a February 2025 seed extension led by Extantia Capital, alongside Innovate UK non-dilutive funding. The team of 11-50 employees is led by co-founder and CEO Jen Keane, a former Nike and adidas designer, and co-founder and CTO Dr. Ben Reeve, a bioengineering PhD. Recent operating moves include Butterfly Mark sustainability certification in 2025 and the build-out of operations and growth leadership in preparation for scaled manufacturing.
Modern Synthesis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modern Synthesis
- Legal name
- Modern Synthesis
- Website
- https://modern-synthesis.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Modern Synthesis is a London-based biomaterials company founded in 2020 that produces bacterial nanocellulose materials grown from engineered bacteria, supplying fashion, footwear, and automotive brands as a lower-impact alternative to leather and synthetics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Modern Synthesis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bio-based Textiles
- NAICS
- Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522), Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills (31311)
- SIC
- Leather & Leather Products (3100), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters) (IMAMALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bio-based Materials & Fibers (e.g., cellulose derivatives, lignin-based materials, nanocellulose) (EUAAAIAD), Bio-based Textiles & Fibers (lyocell/viscose, cellulose filament, nonwovens) (IMAMALAK)
Keywords
Where Modern Synthesis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Modern Synthesis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bio-based Material Sales: Modern Synthesis sells its bacterial nanocellulose-based materials to fashion and automotive brands as a material supplier. The company positions itself as a premium material provider for brands seeking sustainable alternatives to animal leather and petrochemical-derived textiles. Revenue is generated through material sales and potentially licensing of technology.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Modern Synthesis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modern Synthesis develops bacterial nanocellulose materials grown via microbial fermentation using the Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacterium, then bio-coats those nanocellulose sheets onto textile substrates to produce leather-alternative materials. The company sells its bio-based coated textiles directly to fashion, footwear, and apparel brands as biodegradable, lower-carbon replacements for traditional leather and petrochemical-derived fabrics.
Product overview
Modern Synthesis is a biotechnology company that has developed a proprietary microbial textile platform for growing bacterial nanocellulose materials. The company's core offering consists of microbially-derived nanocellulose produced through fermentation of Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacteria, which is processed into bio-based coated textiles designed as drop-in replacements for animal leather, synthetic leathers, and petrochemical-derived textiles. The platform technology connects biology (bacterial fermentation), material science (nanocellulose network formation), predictive intelligence (ML-driven optimization), and industry (manufacturing compatibility). Products include the signature bacterial nanocellulose materials and bio-based coated textiles for fashion, automotive, and other industries, with notable collaborations such as the GANNI Bou Bag (2023) and BEEN London Tote (2025). The company also participates in the Korvaa Consortium, combining their nanocellulose with mycelium and bio-based PHAs for concept footwear applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bacterial Nanocellulose Materials Bacterial nanocellulose sheets grown via microbial fermentation using the Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacterium, serving as the foundational bio-based material input for downstream coated textile products. Designed for fashion, footwear, and apparel manufacturers seeking biodegradable, lower-carbon alternatives to animal leather and petrochemical-derived fabrics.
- Bio-based Coated Textiles Bio-based coated textiles in which bacterial nanocellulose sheets are coated onto textile substrates, producing a leather-like material suitable for handbags, accessories, apparel, and footwear uppers. Sold to fashion and footwear brands as a biodegradable, lower-carbon alternative to leather and synthetics.
Quantifiable outcome
- Carbon footprint is a fraction of that produced by animal and PU leather production
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Modern Synthesis
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Modern Synthesis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Modern Synthesis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EcovativecoreKorvaa Consortium partner contributing mycelium technology. The Korvaa shoe combines Modern Synthesis' bacterial nanocellulose, Ecovative's mycelium, and Ourobio's bio-based PHAs. Concept footwear unveiled at Future Fabrics Expo 2025.
- OurobiocoreKorvaa Consortium partner 3D printing soles using polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The Korvaa shoe combines three biomaterial technologies: bacterial nanocellulose (Modern Synthesis), mycelium (Ecovative), and bio-based PHAs (Ourobio).
- BEEN LondonminorCircular design studio collaborated with Modern Synthesis on a Medium Tote bag made from bio-based coated textile, demonstrated in 2025.
- GANNIcoreDanish fashion brand collaborated with Modern Synthesis to create a handbag made from bacterial nanocellulose. The 'Bou Bag' was unveiled at London Design Festival 2023, showcasing viability of bacterial cellulose-based materials in real-world fashion applications. Plans to commercialize by early 2025 (though timeline was missed).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Modern Synthesis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MycoWorks: MycoWorks grows Fine Mycelium leather as a direct alternative to animal leather for fashion and automotive interiors. It is the most direct competitor to Modern Synthesis in the bio-based coated textile category, with deeper capital and a built-out commercial production facility.
- Bolt Threads: Pioneer in bioengineered proteins and textile fibers (e.g., Microsilk, Mylo) used as leather and silk alternatives. Direct peer in the alternative-materials-for-fashion space, with a similar B2B co-development GTM and a much longer commercial history (and the prior capital intensity issues that Modern Synthesis's drop-in strategy explicitly tries to avoid).
- Ecovative: Ecovative produces mycelium-based materials for packaging, textiles, and food. It is a direct peer in biomaterial leather alternatives and is also a named partner to Modern Synthesis in the Korvaa Consortium, making the comparison particularly relevant.
- Spiber: Spiber brews protein-based fibers (Brewed Protein) used as textile and leather alternatives. Comparable to Modern Synthesis in deploying fermentation-based bioprocesses to produce premium alternatives to animal and petrochemical materials for fashion brands.
Emerging players
- Keel Labs: Keel Labs produces seaweed-based fibers (Kelsun) as a sustainable alternative to cotton and synthetics. The overlap is partial - both target premium sustainable textiles with a bio-based feedstock, but the feedstock and process technology differ.
- Natural Fiber Welding: Natural Fiber Welding produces plant-protein-based materials (Mirum) for use as leather alternatives in fashion and automotive. Closely comparable in end-use to Modern Synthesis's bacterial nanocellulose, with a different feedstock and processing approach.
- Balena: Balena produces bio-based, biodegradable thermoplastic materials (BioCir) for fashion and footwear. Adjacent in the bio-based coatings/materials space and a relevant peer for tracking second-generation biomaterials competitors.
- Polybion: Polybion produces bacterial cellulose (Celium) as a leather alternative. Closest peer to Modern Synthesis in terms of feedstock (bacterial cellulose) and process platform, and competes in the same fashion and luxury materials segment.
Broad incumbents
- Lenzing Group: Lenzing is a large incumbent producer of cellulose-based fibers (lyocell, modal, viscose) used broadly in textiles and apparel. Sits in the broader bio-based cellulose fiber category and represents the established scale competitor that novel entrants like Modern Synthesis must compete against on cost and reliability.
Others
- Biofabricate: Biofabricate is a consultancy, ecosystem organizer, and summit host in the biomaterials and fashion space. Not a direct competitor but a relevant ecosystem player that connects Modern Synthesis with brand partners and thought leadership visibility.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Modern Synthesis social profiles
Digital presenceModern Synthesis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Modern Synthesis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modern Synthesis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Modern Synthesis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modern Synthesis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modern Synthesis
What does Modern Synthesis do?
Modern Synthesis develops bacterial nanocellulose materials grown via microbial fermentation using the Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacterium, then bio-coats those nanocellulose sheets onto textile substrates to produce leather-alternative materials. The company sells its bio-based coated textiles directly to fashion, footwear, and apparel brands as biodegradable, lower-carbon replacements for traditional leather and petrochemical-derived fabrics.
Is Modern Synthesis a public or private company?
Modern Synthesis is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Modern Synthesis founded?
Modern Synthesis was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Modern Synthesis based?
Modern Synthesis is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Modern Synthesis make money?
One revenue line is on record: bio-based Material Sales.
Who are Modern Synthesis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MycoWorks, Bolt Threads, Ecovative and Spiber. Emerging players are Keel Labs, Natural Fiber Welding, Balena and Polybion. Lenzing Group is listed as a broad incumbent. Biofabricate is listed as an others.
Does Modern Synthesis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modern Synthesis.
What industry is Modern Synthesis in?
Modern Synthesis's product category is Bio-based Textiles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMALAD, Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters), with a secondary code of EUAAAIAD, Bio-based Materials & Fibers (e.g., cellulose derivatives, lignin-based materials, nanocellulose). Its NAICS code is 32522 and its SIC code is 3100.