Qorium secures 22 million euros to bring cultivated leather to the mass market

Dutch biotech company Qorium has closed a €22 million financing round to accelerate the commercialization of its cultured leather. The round is led by Invest-NL and LIOF, investing alongside existing investors Brightlands Venture Partners and Sofinnova Partners, as well as several private investors. Invest-NL's investment is part of the European Commission's InvestEU guarantee program.

The Maastricht-based company is considered one of the technological pioneers in the production of genuine leather without animal husbandry. Qorium uses biotechnological processes to cultivate real leather from a small number of animal cells in bioreactors with the same structure, feel and quality as conventional material. The aim is to make leather production more sustainable, efficient and ethical.

From laboratory innovation to industrial scaling

With the new financing round, Qorium aims to complete the transition from the pilot phase to industrial production. The company has already raised 8 million euros in seed capital in recent years and has made significant progress. In addition to the construction of new bioreactors in Maastricht, the first commercial partnerships have been concluded in the luxury goods and automotive sectors.

We combine cutting-edge cell biology with decades of leather expertise to create a product that delivers quality without the environmental and ethical issues of traditional leather production.

Michael Newton, CEO Qorium

Over the next two years, Qorium aims to reduce production costs to the point where they are competitive with premium leather made from animal hide. The start-up plans to launch its first products on the market within 24 months.

High ecological relevance

The leather industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors in the world. It is characterized by high water consumption, land requirements and emissions from animal husbandry. According to the company, Qorium's process reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 87%, reduces water consumption by over 60%, requires 42 times less land and completely avoids methane emissions. It also eliminates many of the environmentally harmful chemicals used in traditional tanning.

Qorium impressively demonstrates how biotechnology can rethink one of the most polluting industries. The company combines innovation with system change - exactly the kind of solutions we need to advance Europe's sustainable materials management.

Lisette Kersting-van der Boog, Invest-NL

Experienced founding team and strong partners

Qorium was founded by Dr. Mark Post, who presented the world's first cultured hamburger in 2013, and Rutger Ploem, an experienced leather expert with over 30 years of industry experience. This combination of pioneering scientific work and a deep understanding of the market is considered one of the company's success factors.

The investors also underline the strategic strength of the team. Guillaume Baxter, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, says:"Qorium combines scientific excellence with industrial feasibility. The company not only has the technology, but also the partners to shape the leather production of the future."

Rethinking leather

With the Series A financing, Qorium is positioning itself as one of the players in the emerging market for cultivated leather. While many competitors rely on synthetic or plant-based alternatives, Qorium offers a genuine natural product.

In doing so, the company could bridge the gap between sustainability, premium quality and industrial scalability, while providing a pioneering example of how biotechnology can redefine traditional industries. Only time will tell how far cultivated leather can assert itself on the market against artificial leather.