November 28, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Basing its name on tôm, the Vietnamese word for shrimp, Brooklyn, New York-based TômTex is working to simultaneously address the issues surrounding waste in both the food and textile industries with one sustainable, affordable solution. 

Founder Uyen Tran, a trained designer born and raised in Danang, Vietnam, one of the world’s leading textile manufacturing hubs, witnessed firsthand the environmental impacts of textile pollution from polyester and synthetic garments, as well as the nearly 1 million tons of aquaculture waste discarded annually in Vietnam. 

Seeing an opportunity for a solution that would positively affect both industries, TômTex is a biomaterials startup founded in 2020 that produces revolutionary, bio-based, high-performance materials using chitosan, a biopolymer derived from seashells or mushroom waste. 

The company’s mission is to design innovative materials that parallel life cycles observed in nature and are alternatives to our historically accepted production methods that have been contributing to our global environmental crisis. 

Its two proprietary materials are: Series M, made from mushroom chitosan, and Series WS, made from waste seashell chitosan. This raw chitosan is mixed with other green substances through a 100 percent green chemical process to create materials that present a sustainable, accessible, and practical alternative to current commercially available options. 

As it continues to grow, TômTex announced it has closed on a Seed round at $2.25 million, which combines a Pre-Seed round of $1.9 million, for total funding to-date of $4.15 million led by Happiness Capital, and including SOSV, Parley for the Oceans, and MIH Capital. 

“I am excited about our recent fundraising success!,” said Tran. “The funds will fuel TômTex’s team growth, key hires, and expanded manufacturing. More than scaling, it’s a strategic step to secure new contracts and revenue, strengthening our market position.”

Tran brought her firsthand experience working as a fashion designer for some of the world’s most well-known names such as Ralph Lauren and Alexander Wang to work with Dauphinette, Di Pesta, Maitrepierre, and Peter Do to launch TômTex’s proprietary, 100-percent biodegradable materials in the fashion industry. Now, with this capital, the company stated it plans to grow its Brooklyn-based team with key leadership roles and expand its in-house and contract manufacturing capabilities. 

TômTex explained that its inherent scalability is rooted in the fact that it uses existing food waste matter to create its material as opposed to lab-grown new materials, which can be time-consuming and costly. This approach has recently been validated as the company has achieved its first continuous roll-to-roll material production milestone, producing 100 linear feet in an initial run with a plan for a 10x follow-up in the coming weeks. This benchmark will mark the start of a full-scale production ramp-up aimed at fulfilling commercial orders. 

But beyond scaling up, the company noted that this funding is a pathway to securing new contract orders and creating new revenue streams, solidifying its position in the market. 

“We are thrilled to be part of TômTex’s journey,” said Eric Ng, general partner, Happiness Capital. “Their biomaterial technology is a game-changer, not just for its viability in the market but also for its sustainability. Investing in TômTex means investing in a scalable platform that has the potential to revolutionize industries while making a positive impact on our environment.”

Evident of the breadth of its potential, TômTex works across multiple industries from home furnishings and luxury automobiles to collaborating on runway pieces for New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week shows for Peter Do, Dauphinette, Di Petsa, and Maitrepierre. These collaborations demonstrate the versatility of TômTex’ materials, which can be custom-molded, stamped, 3-D printed, or embossed with animal leather style patterns. 

“As you read this, you likely have at least four synthetic leather items, which are, in fact, plastic. These items will persist in our environment for centuries,” added Tien Nguyen, general partner, Earth Venture Capital. “We are incredibly proud to support TômTex to address this problem.”

“As a major player in the global shrimp industry, Vietnam witnesses the massive waste of shrimp shells, aligning perfectly with TômTex’s philosophy: ‘Waste is the new luxury’,” continued Nguyen. “Now is the time for TômTex to scale. We are committed to this critical stage of the company, driven by a strong belief in the future of sustainable fashion.”

Tran added, “Heartfelt thanks to our dedicated team and investors who believe in the power of scalable and sustainable TômTex’s biomaterial technology platform. Together, we’re forging a path towards a more sustainable, innovative future. Exciting times ahead!”

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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