The Guardian Spotlights Startup Award Winners

We’re thrilled to see the winners of the Future Is Fungi Startup Award featured in The Guardian, recognized for turning fungal science into tangible solutions that could redefine how we make, consume, and interact with everyday products.

These pioneering startups are at the forefront of a movement harnessing fungi to replace petrochemicals, reduce waste, and create materials designed to work in harmony with natural systems. From fermentation-based plastic alternatives to biodegradable consumer goods and bio-based ingredients, they’re proving that fungi are not just a laboratory curiosity—they are a scalable, commercially viable.

As The Guardian highlights, fungi possess remarkable capabilities: breaking down complex materials, producing high-value compounds, and growing with minimal resources. The startups celebrated by the Future Is Fungi Award are translating these unique properties into innovations that could transform food systems, consumer products, and materials science.

Candy made from fungi derived colours. Photograph: Michroma

With an estimated 5.1 million fungal species on Earth—most still unexplored—we're only beginning to understand what these organisms can do. From firefighting foams to living sensors and even unconventional computing circuits, the applications seem limited only by our imagination.

As our founding CEO Susanne Gløersen says in the article:

"This award exists to support the boldest visionaries turning fungal science into systemic change. Fungi are nature's original engineers. We're simply giving them the platform they deserve."

At Future Is Fungi, we’re proud to support and spotlight the entrepreneurs leading this transformation, proving that the future isn’t just inventive—it’s regenerative by design.

👉 Read the full Guardian feature here.