Bolt (Projects Holdings)

What Bolt (Projects Holdings) does

Bolt Threads, Inc. was a biomaterials company that developed sustainable alternatives to conventional materials using precision fermentation and synthetic biology. Its core technology platforms included recombinant silk proteins — biotechnology-derived silk produced via fermentation with applications spanning textiles, surgical sutures, tissue engineering, and drug delivery — and Mylo, a mushroom-mycelium-based leather alternative marketed for fashion, automotive, and furniture use cases. The company was founded in 2009 in Emeryville, California, and at its operating peak maintained primary orientation around supplying bio-based ingredients to personal care and cosmetic brands as its stated core commercial vertical.

The business model was B2B, supplying engineered biomaterial inputs to downstream manufacturers across personal care, fashion, automotive, and furniture industries. Specific pricing structures, licensing economics, and contract terms were not disclosed in the available data, and no named customers, distribution channels, or marketing channels are documented. The competitive set — MycoWorks, Modern Meadow, Ecovative Design, Natural Fiber Welding, Pinatex, and Vegea — was identified across third-party market research as co-positioned in the plant-based vegan leather category.

The operating entity was held under Bolt Projects Holdings, a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ under ticker BSLK. Bolt Projects Holdings most recently reported $3.14 million in revenue against $65.39 million in net losses, an unfavorable ratio indicating that despite pioneering technology, the business did not achieve commercial scale. Bolt Threads, Inc. subsequently ceased operations; its website now routes all correspondence to a custodian email at vlpc.com and a Foxboro, Massachusetts address (124 Washington Street, Ste. 101), and no operating subsidiaries, active management, or ongoing products are disclosed.

Name

Bolt (Projects Holdings)

Legal name

Bolt Threads, Inc.

Website

https://boltthreads.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Closed

Short description

Bolt Threads, Inc. (held under Bolt Projects Holdings, NASDAQ:BSLK) was a biomaterials company developing precision-fermented recombinant silk proteins and mushroom-mycelium-based leather for personal care, fashion, and materials applications. The operating company has ceased operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomaterials Manufacturing

NAICS

Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522), Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills (313110)

SIC

Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAOAMAM

Biobased, Compostable & Low-Impact Material Innovation (Bio-polymers/Dope Dyeing)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Textiles, Apparel & Leather Manufacturing/Textile Recycling & Sustainability Solutions

SECONDARYIMAOAHAH

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

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Textiles, Apparel & Leather Manufacturing/Leather Goods Manufacturing (Bags/Wallets/Luggage)

SECONDARYIMAMALAK

Bio-based Textiles & Fibers (lyocell/viscose, cellulose filament, nonwovens)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Biomaterials & Bio-based Products

SECONDARYIMAOAAAB

Man-Made Fiber Manufacturing (Polyester/Nylon/Acrylic/Viscose)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Textiles, Apparel & Leather Manufacturing/Fiber & Yarn Manufacturing

Keywords

• Biomaterials manufacturing
• Mushroom-based leather
• Recombinant silk proteins
• Vegan leather alternatives
• Precision fermentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Emeryville

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, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Core offering

Bolt Threads pioneered and manufactured biotech-based biomaterials, including Mylo mushroom-based leather alternatives and recombinant silk proteins produced through precision fermentation. The company supplied these sustainable material ingredients for use in personal care formulations, fashion, automotive, and furniture applications, addressing demand for plant-based, ethical alternatives to conventional leather and silk.

Product overview

Bolt Threads, Inc. was a company dedicated to pioneering and manufacturing biomaterials for personal care formulations. The company is no longer operating. No specific named products or services were identified in the available source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mylo Mushroom-Based Leather Plant-based leather alternative made from mushroom mycelium, developed as a sustainable material for fashion, automotive, and furniture applications. Designed for brands seeking renewable, lower-environmental-impact substitutes for conventional animal leather.
• Recombinant Silk Proteins Biotechnology-derived silk proteins produced through precision fermentation, applicable in textiles and biomedical applications including surgical sutures, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems. Supplied as a bio-based silk alternative to textile and biomedical manufacturers.
• Biomaterials for Personal Care Formulations High-quality biomaterial solutions developed for personal care and cosmetic formulations, leveraging pioneering and manufacturing capabilities to deliver sustainable, bio-based ingredients for personal care brands.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• MycoWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth companies identified as key players in the plant-based vegan leather market. MycoWorks specializes in mycelium-based materials (similar to Bolt's Mylo product), positioning both as competitors and co-pioneers in the sustainable materials space. The market report groups them among major industry participants driving the plant-based leather sector.
• VegeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth Vegea and Bolt Threads identified as key players in the plant-based vegan leather market. Vegea produces wine-based leather alternatives from grape marc and olive husks. Listed alongside Bolt in market analysis as co-pioneers advancing sustainable materials innovation.
• PinatexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPinatex and Bolt Threads both recognized as key industry participants in the plant-based vegan leather market. Pinatex produces pineapple fiber leather. Both companies positioned as market leaders driving sustainable materials adoption across fashion, automotive, and furniture sectors.
• Natural Fiber WeldingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth Natural Fiber Welding and Bolt Threads listed as key players in the global plant-based vegan leather market. Natural Fiber Welding develops plant-based leather alternatives using proprietary welding technology. Both companies advancing sustainable materials innovation.
• Modern MeadowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern Meadow and Bolt Threads identified as key participants in the plant-based vegan leather market. Modern Meadow produces biofabricated leather through protein fermentation. Both positioned as innovators in sustainable materials space.
• Ecovative DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcovative Design and Bolt Threads both listed among key players in the plant-based vegan leather market. Ecovative specializes in mycelium-based materials. Both companies recognized as leaders in sustainable materials innovation.
• BiofabricateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiofabricate and Bolt Threads identified as key players in the plant-based vegan leather market. Biofabricate serves as an industry organization supporting biofabricated materials. Both contributing to advancing sustainable materials in fashion and beyond.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Direct peers

• Vegea: Vegea produces grape marc-based and olive husk-based leather alternatives for fashion, automotive, and furniture — a direct competitor in the plant-based vegan leather category with overlapping end markets and customer base.
• MycoWorks: MycoWorks develops Fine Mycelium, a mycelium-based leather alternative for fashion and automotive — directly comparable to Bolt Threads' Mylo product, targeting the same luxury and apparel brand customers with a competing bio-fabrication technology.
• Spiber: Spiber (Japan) Brewed Protein fibers use precision fermentation to produce spider-silk-style proteins for apparel — directly analogous to Bolt Threads' recombinant silk protein platform and a key competitor in the structural protein fiber space.
• Ananas Anam (Pinatex): Ananas Anam produces Pinatex, a leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fiber, supplying fashion and footwear brands — directly comparable as a plant-based leather alternative competing for the same sustainability-minded fashion customers as Mylo.
• Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow produces biofabricated leather and protein-based materials using fermentation, closely mirroring Bolt Threads' recombinant-protein approach; both target fashion, automotive, and personal-care applications with bioengineered leather.
• Natural Fiber Welding: Natural Fiber Welding produces plant-protein-based leather alternatives (Mirum) using proprietary welding/bonding processes — a direct competitor in the plant-based vegan leather category alongside Bolt Threads.
• Ecovative Design: Ecovative commercializes mycelium-based materials (Forager) for packaging, food, and leather alternatives — overlapping with Bolt's Mylo mycelium technology and supplying comparable plant-based material platforms to fashion and consumer brands.

Emerging players

• AMSilk: AMSilk produces plant-based silk proteins via precision fermentation for cosmetics, textile fibers, and medical applications — an emerging direct competitor specifically to Bolt Threads' recombinant silk protein platform, particularly in personal-care ingredients.
• Keel Labs: Keel Labs produces seaweed-based Kelsun fiber for apparel, an emerging biomaterial alternative — comparable as a new-generation sustainable textile ingredient competing for the same brand partners Bolt Threads historically served.
• AlgiKnit: AlgiKnit develops kelp-based yarns and biopolymers for the fashion industry, positioned as an emerging biomaterials player serving apparel brands seeking sustainable fiber inputs — analogous niche in next-generation bio-textile inputs.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/boltthreads

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Bolt (Projects Holdings)