Simplifyber

Develops plant-based, biodegradable fibers and a one-step 3D molding process for soft goods manufacturing.

Website: https://www.simplifyber.com/

The People Building It

Simplifyber was founded in 2021 by Maria Intscher-Owrang and Phil Cohen. The company is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, and operates as a venture-scale B2B business in the climatetech and advanced manufacturing sectors [Crunchbase].

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The Short Version

Simplifyber is a materials science startup whose patented, one-step 3D molding process for creating finished soft goods directly from a cellulose slurry represents a potential paradigm shift for the textile and fashion industries [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief]. Founded in 2021 by luxury designer Maria Intscher-Owrang and entrepreneur Phil Cohen, the company aims to eliminate the waste, water consumption, and complex supply chains inherent in traditional apparel manufacturing. The core technology injects a plant-based, biodegradable liquid into molds to form items like shoe uppers or handbags, bypassing spinning, weaving, cutting, and sewing entirely [simplifyber.com/about, 2026]. With $16.1 million raised across a seed round led by At One Ventures and a recent $12 million Series A, the company is moving from pilot projects with undisclosed Fortune 500 brands toward early production [PR Newswire, June 2022][PitchBook, April 2025].

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Confirmed by multiple independent sources including company website, PR Newswire, and PitchBook.

The Company in Brief

Simplifyber was founded in 2021 by Maria Intscher-Owrang and Phil Cohen, with a mission to address the environmental footprint of the textile industry through a novel manufacturing process [Crunchbase]. Its founding narrative centers on Intscher-Owrang's two decades of experience as a luxury fashion designer, which provided a firsthand view of the industry's waste and inefficiency [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief]. This background informed the development of a patented, one-step 3D molding process for creating soft goods directly from a cellulose slurry, bypassing traditional steps like spinning, weaving, cutting, and sewing [simplifyber.com/about, 2026].

Key milestones include a $3.5 million seed round in June 2022, led by At One Ventures, which funded the advancement of its bio-based formulas and additive manufacturing system [PR Newswire, June 2022]. The company then unveiled its first commercial product, a shoe upper made in collaboration with Danish fashion brand Ganni, at Paris Fashion Week in September 2024 [just-style.com, 2026]. This was followed by a $12 million Series A round in April 2025, which PitchBook lists as completed and at a "Generating Revenue" stage [PitchBook, April 2025].

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Confirmed by Crunchbase, company website, and press releases.

What They Have Built

Simplifyber's core proposition is a manufacturing process that collapses the traditional textile supply chain into a single step. The company injects a proprietary, cellulose-based liquid slurry into 3D molds to directly form finished soft goods, such as shoe uppers or handbag components, without the need for spinning, weaving, cutting, or sewing [simplifyber.com/about, 2026]. This patented method aims to create products that are 100% bio-based and fully biodegradable, targeting cost parity with synthetic fibers like polyester [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief].

The technology's environmental claims are central to its value proposition. The company states that dyeing can be performed at the liquid stage, which it claims significantly reduces water use and pollution compared to conventional methods [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief]. A specific product-level claim notes that the CO2 emissions associated with its shoe uppers are 33 times lower than those of traditional versions [simplifyber.com, 2026]. The process is described as a platform, allowing for material tuning by selecting different raw ingredients to achieve specific performance or aesthetic goals [simplifyber.com/future-fabrics, 2026].

Public traction is anchored by a high-profile collaboration. The company's inaugural product, a shoe upper made from its cellulose-derived material (branded as Fybron), was unveiled at Paris Fashion Week in September 2024 through a partnership with the Scandinavian fashion brand Ganni [sustainablebrands.com, 2026], [sourcingjournal.com, 2026]. The company has indicated it will begin early pilot production later this year, with a multi-year goal of reaching mass production levels [sdgs.un.org, 2026].

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Core product claims are confirmed by the company website and multiple independent press reports. Environmental claims are company-sourced.

Market Size and Demand

The market for sustainable materials in the fashion and footwear industries is shifting from a niche concern to a core operational requirement. Simplifyber operates at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and biomaterials, targeting the production of soft goods like apparel, footwear, and automotive interiors. The company's value proposition addresses multiple points of friction in the traditional textile supply chain, including waste, water use, and chemical pollution.

Metric Value
Sustainable Footwear (Global) 2023 $11,500M
Sustainable Footwear (Global) 2030 $20,000M

Demand is propelled by regulatory pressure, such as the EU's Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, and corporate sustainability goals. Simplifyber's process competes with bio-based leather alternatives and recycled synthetic fibers on the basis of waste reduction and a simplified supply chain. A significant macro force is the rising cost and volatility of petroleum-based feedstocks for polyester, which improves the relative economic case for stable, plant-based inputs over time.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Market sizing figures are from third-party reports for analogous sectors, not specific to the company's technology.

Who Else Is Fighting for This

Simplifyber operates at the intersection of sustainable textile fibers and additive manufacturing for soft goods.

Company Positioning Stage / Funding Notable Differentiator
Simplifyber One-step 3D molding of finished goods from cellulose slurry. Series A ($16.1M total). Patented process eliminates spinning, weaving, cutting, and sewing.
Spinnova Producer of wood-based textile fiber from mechanical pulp. Public (Nasdaq Helsinki: SPINN). Fiber production process uses no harmful chemicals and minimal water.
Renewcell Producer of Circulose®, a dissolving pulp made from 100% textile waste. Public (Nasdaq Stockholm: RENEW). Chemical recycling technology focused on creating new virgin-quality fibers.

Simplifyber's defensible edge is its integrated process, which collapses multiple supply chain steps into one. The involvement of strategic investors like pulp giant Suzano provides potential access to low-cost cellulose feedstock and industrial scaling expertise [Global Venturing].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Competitor data is based on public company profiles; Simplifyber's differentiation is confirmed by company and investor sources.

Opportunity

Simplifyber’s opportunity rests on replacing the entire multi-step manufacturing process for soft goods. The company’s patented process directly addresses textile waste from cutting patterns and water pollution from dyeing. By injecting a cellulose slurry into molds, Simplifyber eliminates spinning, weaving, cutting, and most sewing [PR Newswire, June 2022]. The company has completed a $12 million Series A round in April 2025 and launched its first commercial product, a shoe upper, in collaboration with Ganni [PitchBook, April 2025] [Global Venturing].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- The core opportunity thesis is supported by multiple public sources detailing the technology, funding, and initial product launch.

Sources

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