Natural Fiber Welding is a company.
Natural Fiber Welding has raised $100.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Natural Fiber Welding.
Natural Fiber Welding has raised $100.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Natural Fiber Welding.
Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) develops plant-based, plastic-free materials that replace petroleum-derived plastics in industries like fashion, automotive, and upholstery. Its key products include MIRUM® (a leather alternative), CLARUS® (engineered textiles), PLIANT™ (plastic-free footwear outsoles), and TUNERA™ (100% biobased foam), all designed for drop-in compatibility with existing manufacturing lines to enable circular economies and cut carbon emissions by up to 10x compared to leather.[1][2][3]
NFW serves major brands such as Stella McCartney, Patagonia, and BMW, solving the problem of plastic pollution, microplastics, and high-emission materials by supporting regenerative agriculture and compostable end-of-life solutions. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, the company has raised $218.49M in funding (latest: $23.58M debt round five months ago), employs around 205 people (post-recent layoffs), and is shifting to a licensing model for global scalability.[1][2][3]
NFW was founded in 2015 by Luke Haverhals, PhD, a chemist inspired to create scalable, economic alternatives to plastics after recognizing their environmental toll, including massive carbon emissions and pollution. Haverhals, a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and IPOEF 2022 Inventor of the Year (with co-inventor Aaron Amstutz), drew from nature's photosynthesis—producing more biomass daily than annual fossil fuel synthetics—to engineer plant-fiber technologies.[2][3][5]
Steve Zika, CEO and co-founder with decades in tech and impact ventures, joined to lead operations. Early traction came from prototyping high-performance, plastic-free materials that fit existing supply chains without retooling. Pivotal moments include partnerships with 40 brands, Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies (2022 Style, 2023 Energy & Sustainability), and 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist status from nearly 2,500 nominees.[2][3] Recent layoffs in Peoria streamlined focus on IP licensing over in-house production.[1]
NFW rides the sustainable materials wave, capitalizing on regulatory pressures (e.g., plastic bans), consumer demand for eco-products, and corporate net-zero pledges amid climate urgency. Timing aligns with post-2020 supply chain disruptions and circular economy mandates, where plastic's 99% non-recycled fate and emissions make alternatives essential.[2][5]
Market forces favor NFW: booming bio-materials sector (e.g., peers like Keel Labs), regenerative ag incentives, and brands' Scope 3 emission cuts. By enabling plastic-free scalability without capex, NFW influences ecosystems—displacing synthetics in $500B+ leather/foam/textile markets, preventing microplastics, and proving nature-based tech can outperform fossils at scale.[1][2][3]
NFW's pivot to IP licensing positions it for explosive growth, unblocking production limits by empowering global manufacturers while retaining brand ties—potentially dominating plastic-free supply chains by 2030. Trends like EU plastic taxes, EV upholstery demands, and bio-economy investments will accelerate this; watch for expanded licensing (22 countries) and TUNERA® foam adoption in autos/furniture.[1][2]
With $218M fueled and Earthshot momentum, NFW could redefine materials as "nutrients for the planet," evolving from innovator to ecosystem enabler—much like how its plant fibers weld nature's scale into industrial reality.[3][5]
Natural Fiber Welding has raised $100.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Natural Fiber Welding's investors include Evolution VC Partners, Keith Masback, BMW i Ventures, Canvas Ventures, Neotribe Ventures, NewView Capital, TeClub, WestWave Capital.
Natural Fiber Welding has raised $100.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $85.0M Series B in April 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2022 | $85.0M Series B | Evolution VC Partners, Keith Masback | |
| Jul 1, 2021 | $15.0M Venture Round | BMW i Ventures, Canvas Ventures, Neotribe Ventures, NewView Capital, TeClub, WestWave Capital |
