Rheom Materials

Name

Rheom Materials

Legal name

RHEOM MATERIALS INC.

Website

https://rheom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biobased Materials

NAICS

Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Compostable & Bio-based Flexible Films and Sheet (extrusion/cast/blown) (IMANANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bioplastics Compounding & Masterbatch (bio-based additives, colorants, fillers) (IMANANAB)

Keywords

• Biobased materials
• Biopolymer resin
• Leather alternatives
• Sustainable materials
• Injection molding compounds

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shorai™ Biobased Leather Alternative: Rheom generates revenue through the sale of Shorai™, their flagship biobased leather alternative. The material is sold to fashion, automotive, upholstery, and electronics brands as a sustainable replacement for conventional leather. Revenue is derived from direct material sales and co-development partnerships with brands.
2. Benree™ Biopolymer Resin: Benree™ is sold as a biopolymer resin for injection molding applications across fashion trim, eyewear, cases, packaging, footwear, and fashion accessories. The company positions it as a drop-in replacement for petrochemical plastics, enabling revenue from direct resin sales.
3. Formulation Licensing: The company plans to license formulations to manufacturers worldwide, enabling production of their biobased materials globally. CEO Zimri Hinshaw stated vision includes 'licensing out our formulations' to create 'materials all over the world in millions and millions of pounds.'

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rheom Materials develops and sells biobased materials using proprietary melt extrusion technology. Its two main products are Shorai™, a biobased extruded flexible sheet serving as a sustainable leather alternative (93% USDA-certified biobased content), and Benree™, a 100% biobased biopolymer resin designed as a drop-in replacement for petrochemical plastics in injection molding. Both materials are engineered to integrate with existing plastics manufacturing infrastructure without requiring new equipment.

Product overview

Rheom Materials is a biomaterials company offering two main biobased material products: Shorai™ (a biobased leather alternative extruded as flexible sheets) and Benree™ (a 100% biobased biopolymer resin for injection molding). Both products leverage melt extrusion technology and are designed as drop-in replacements for conventional plastics, enabling seamless integration into existing manufacturing supply chains. The company positions itself as a bridge between biobased material suppliers, manufacturers, and consumer goods brands across fashion, automotive, and electronics industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shorai™: Biobased leather alternative - an extruded flexible sheet providing an ethical alternative to animal and petrochemical leathers, with 93% USDA certified biobased content.
• Benree™

Products and services

• Shorai™ Biobased extruded flexible sheet providing an ethical alternative to animal and petrochemical leathers, with 93% USDA-certified biobased content. Produced roll-to-roll in various colors, sizes, and textures mimicking natural and exotic leathers; compatible with traditional cut-and-sew applications.
• Benree™ Sustainable 100% biobased biopolymer resin for injection molding applications, serving as a drop-in replacement for petrochemical plastics. PFAS-free, scalable, and biodegradable under home composting conditions (EN ISO 14855). Used in fashion trim, eyewear, cases, packaging, footwear, and fashion accessories.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% USDA certified biobased content for Shorai; 100% for Benree
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EconockcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Manufacturing partnership to produce and debut a 10-piece capsule collection at Lineapelle in Milan made from Shorai bio-based leather alternative derived from sugar. The partnership focuses on promoting adoption of next-generation materials with an emphasis on sustainability, design, and manufacturing integration.
• LUCKYNELLY - BERLINcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025Collaboration to create The Eden Bag showcased at Berlin Fashion Week. Custom Shorai material developed in rich merlot hue with ridged crocodile pattern. LUCKYNELLY is one of the first designers to specialize in vegan handbags, founded by Christine Rochlitz in 2012. The collaboration represents sustainable luxury fashion using guilt-free biobased materials.
• Bixby InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2024Bixby International is Rheom's thermoplastic extrusion partner for scaling Shorai production. The partnership began at lab scale and has grown to supply for the automotive industry. Bixby provides expertise in plastics manufacturing, quality assurance, and process validation. Rheom develops formulations in their Houston lab, shares conditions with Bixby for pilot line validation, and Bixby handles full-scale production including surface finishes and performance coatings.
• East End Maker HubminorOthersHouston startup innovation and manufacturing hub where Rheom's headquarters and laboratory are located. Provides access to equipment and collaborative ecosystem for climate-tech companies.
• Greentown LabsminorOthersClimate-tech incubator where Rheom is a member company. Largest climatetech startup incubator in the U.S., providing resources, lab space, and community for climate technology companies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MycoWorks: Mycelium-based Reishi™ leather alternative targeting luxury fashion and automotive. Most direct competitor to Shorai in the biobased leather category, with similar enterprise brand partnerships and drop-in supply chain positioning.
• Bolt Threads: Develops Mylo™ (mycelium leather) and b-silk™ protein-based materials. Directly competes with Shorai in biobased leather alternatives for fashion and consumer goods, with established brand collaborations.
• Modern Meadow: Bioengineered protein-based leather and beauty ingredients (Bio-Alloy™, Bio-Coll™). Competes with Rheom in the sustainable leather alternative space with applications in fashion, automotive, and footwear.
• Natural Fiber Welding: Develops Mirum™ and Clarus™ plant-based leather alternatives using natural fiber welding technology. Directly comparable as a biobased material platform targeting fashion and automotive applications.
• Spiber: Brewed Protein™ (fermented protein-based fibers) for apparel and automotive. Competes with Rheom's Woven Biofibers pipeline in next-gen textile materials and shares the fermentation/biopolymer feedstock approach.
• Ananas Anam: Piñatex™ pineapple leaf fiber leather alternative. Plant-based bio-material targeting fashion and accessories, comparable to Shorai as a leather replacement with sustainability positioning.

Broad incumbents

• NatureWorks: Major PLA bioplastic resin manufacturer (Ingeo™). Competes broadly with Benree™ in biobased resins for injection molding and packaging, with established global manufacturing and customer base.
• Danimer Scientific: PHA-based bioplastic producer (Nodax™) for biodegradable packaging and consumer goods. Comparable to Benree™ in providing biodegradable resin alternatives to petrochemical plastics at scale.
• TotalEnergies Corbion: Joint venture producing Luminy® PLA bioplastics. Large-scale incumbent in biobased resins competing with Benree™ across injection molding and packaging applications.

Others

• Greentown Labs: Largest US climatetech incubator where Rheom is a member company. While not a competitor, Greentown Labs provides ecosystem context for Rheom's positioning among climate-tech startups and potential partners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/buchabio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rheommaterials
• Instagraminstagram.com/rheommaterials

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 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 Rheom Materials