🦁 Hy-five: Lion's Mane Hydrogel, Psychedelic Market Boom, Fungal Asphalt Binder, Mushroom Farming for Youth Empowerment
Sporadic round-up of mycological research and industry news.
Hello dear fungi enthusiast,
Exclusive sneak peek into one of the most innovative fungal material companies, UK based Really Clever. I’m impressed!
"Really Clever is a fungal discovery platform - in short we assess the characteristics of fungal organisms and match them to particular sustainable products.
The reason why fungi are so fascinating is due to the undiscovered reservoir of potential that fungal species - estimated between 2.1m and 3.1m - still have left to be discovered and described. We believe that the possibilities could be endless."
- Patrick Pinto, one of the two founders, who kindly welcomed MycoStories in their factory.
#1 The Psychedelic Mushroom Market is Set to Double in the Next 5 Years 📈
The global psychedelic mushroom market is on a trajectory of unprecedented growth. According to a recent report by Persistence Market Research, the industry is expected to more than double in size by 2031, expanding from $1.5 billion in 2024 to an estimated $3.3 billion.
Companies are rapidly innovating to enhance the accessibility and appeal of psilocybin-based therapies. The emergence of microdosing kits, like Mabel who recently raised €600,000 in France, controlled-release formulations, and user-friendly delivery mechanisms is setting the stage for broader adoption.
2# Visibuilt Secures €1.1 Million Pre-Seed Funding to Advance World’s First Fermentation-Based Binder for Asphalt 🚧
Mushrooms are notorious for breaking through concrete and asphalt — costing millions in damages with species like Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, and Cladosporium sphaerospermum. But they're now being used to fix the problem they cause.
Visibuilt, a Danish startup founded in 2023 by CEO Line Kloster Pedersen, is developing visiBIT, the world’s first fermentation-based binder for asphalt made from mycelium. They have successfully closed their pre-seed funding round, raising €1.1 million with the support of EMDFonden and a consortium of four seasoned investors.
3# Lion's Mane Mushroom and Hydrogels: A Breakthrough in Wound Healing 🩹
In an exciting development at the intersection of mycology and biomedical engineering, researchers have demonstrated the potential of Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) extracts in advanced wound-healing applications.
The study, conducted by Pinida Joradon and colleagues from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok and the National Nanotechnology Center in Thailand, focuses on the creation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) hydrogel film composites for controlled release of ergosterol—a bioactive compound found in Lion’s Mane mushrooms.
4# Mushroom Farming for Youth Empowerment: A High-Value Crop With Minimal Resource Requirement ✊🏽
Mushroom farming is emerging as a game-changer for youth empowerment and sustainable development, particularly in regions grappling with unemployment and land scarcity. A recent study highlights the transformative potential of mushroom cultivation as a high-value crop requiring minimal land and resources.
Case studies from Kenya reveal the remarkable economic uplift achieved through youth-led mushroom farming initiatives. Development programs introduced low-cost production methods and market linkages, enabling participants to increase household incomes by over 50% within the first year. Similarly, in Bangladesh, mushroom cultivation empowered over 5,000 youth and women, boosting per capita income by an average of 35%.
5# €15M for Those Vegan Cowboys in the Race to Bring Animal-Free Casein to Market 🧀
Dutch-Belgian food tech startup Those Vegan Cowboys is taking bold steps to commercialise its precision-fermented casein, aiming to disrupt the dairy industry with a sustainable, animal-free alternative.
The company is currently raising €15 million to accelerate production and regulatory approval, with its sights set on entering the US market by the end of the year. A newly announced partnership with German dairy giant Hochland marks a significant step toward scaling its casein for various cheese applications.
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