Spiber Inc
APAC
Tsuruoka
,
Japan
Scaleup
FOUNDED
2007
HEADCOUNT
101-500
FUNDING
Series D+
Keywords:
precision_fermentation, synthetic_biology, protein_fibers, cosmetics
BUSINESS
Founded in 2007 in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan, originating from a student project at Keio University. Spiber develops and produces Brewed Protein, a platform of engineered structural protein materials made via microbial fermentation of plant-derived sugars. The materials can be processed into fibers, films, resins, and leather-like materials, targeting textiles, automotive, cosmetics, and food applications. The company's first production plant in Thailand (Spiber Thailand) has been operational since 2022 with capacity of approximately 500 tonnes/year. Over 45 brand partners including Burberry, The North Face (Goldwin), sacai, Iris van Herpen, and Shiseido, with 193 products using Brewed Protein as of 2025.
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Spiber designs protein sequences using bioinformatics and its proprietary database, engineers microorganisms with tailored DNA to produce the target proteins, and manufactures via precision fermentation using plant-derived sugars as feedstock. The platform originally pursued spider silk replication but has evolved into a broader designed-protein materials platform, engineering amino acid sequences for specific functional properties (sheen, elasticity, shrink resistance, flame retardancy) across diverse polymer forms.
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
precision fermentation; synthetic biology
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Brewed Protein fiber