Key Takeaways
- Qorium has raised €22 million in Series A funding from Invest-NL and LIOF, alongside existing backers Brightlands Venture Partners and Sofinnova Partners.
- The investment, supported by the European Commission’s InvestEU guarantee scheme, will help the company scale its cultivated leather production and install new bioreactor systems in Maastricht.
- The company’s biotechnology creates real leather from a few animal cells, eliminating the need for livestock farming while reducing waste and environmental impact.
- The funding builds on €8 million in prior seed investment, enabling the company to transition from R&D to commercial manufacturing.
- Investors cite Qorium’s potential to transform the traditional leather industry, one of the most polluting material sectors globally.
Qorium Raises €22 Million to Advance Sustainable Leather Technology
Dutch biotechnology company Qorium announced a €22 million Series A investment, led by Invest-NL and LIOF, with continued participation from existing investors Brightlands Venture Partners and Sofinnova Partners. The round also includes contributions from several high-net-worth individuals. The Invest-NL funding is backed by the European Commission’s InvestEU guarantee scheme.
Qorium produces real, uniform leather directly from animal cells, removing the need for livestock farming. The process drastically reduces waste, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional leather production.
Scaling Up Cultivated Leather Production
The latest funding builds on Qorium’s previous €8 million seed round and marks a key milestone as the company moves from laboratory success to commercial production. Qorium is expanding its Maastricht facilities with new bioreactor systems and strengthening partnerships to support its path to market.
“This investment is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission to transform the leather industry,” said Michael Newton, CEO of Qorium. “By combining cutting-edge science with deep leather expertise, we are creating real leather that offers better performance than traditional leather, without the environmental and ethical costs.”
Investor Confidence in Sustainable Innovation
Invest-NL highlighted Qorium’s potential to address one of the world’s most environmentally intensive industries. “Qorium’s leather is a breakthrough innovation that can transform one of the world’s most polluting industries,” said Lisette Kersting-van der Boog of Invest-NL. “By producing real leather without livestock, Qorium shows how biotechnology can build a more sustainable materials system.”
Guillaume Baxter, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, added: “We’ve been on this journey with Qorium from the start, backing both the science of Dr. Mark Post and the deep leather experience of Rutger Ploem. This investment reflects Qorium’s impressive progress and its strong sustainability potential.”
Positioning Qorium as a Leader in Cultivated Materials
With the Series A funding secured, Qorium aims to accelerate its transition toward full-scale production and market entry. The company plans to appoint a new board director in the coming weeks to support its next growth phase.
Qorium’s technology positions it as a leader in the global shift toward sustainable materials, offering an alternative to traditional leather that aligns with consumer and regulatory trends toward lower-impact manufacturing.
