Alt.Leather

Founded in 2022 by entrepreneur Tina Funder, Alt Leather is a Melbourne-based biotechnology startup that manufactures a fully biobased, plastic-free alternative to animal leather using agricultural biomass and regenerative plant materials. The company supplies its innovative, petrochemical-free textiles to commercial clients across the global fashion, footwear, furniture, and automotive interior sectors. Operating as an early-stage venture with a core team of four researchers, the organization successfully raised 1,100,000 dollars in seed funding to scale its material formulations and production capabilities. This financial backing was secured from a syndicate of notable institutional investors including Startmate, Wollemi Capital Group, the Austin Group, and the Alice Anderson Fund from LaunchVic. Additionally, the enterprise established a strategic research partnership with RMIT University to further develop, refine, and test its proprietary vegan textiles for future commercial market readiness.