Hungarian Startup “Grows” Leather & Plastic Alternatives in Venlo

Hungarian biotech startup Smobya is producing leather and plastic alternatives using fermentation technology at a new lab in Venlo, Netherlands. Founder Lídia Kuti began experimenting with “bacterial leather” in her kitchen after witnessing waste in the fashion industry.

Smobya’s NanoTwine technology converts food waste into bacterial nanocellulose via precision fermentation, a process requiring fewer natural resources than traditional methods and avoiding both animals and fossil fuels. The company relocated from Budapest in May 2022, seeking the supportive biotech ecosystem of Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo and investment to build a demonstration plant.

Early challenges involved scaling a process reliant on living organisms to ensure consistent output, which Smobya overcame with a controlled fermentation platform. Smobya envisions expanding beyond fashion into automotive, medical, and cosmetic applications, aiming to become a leading platform for bacterial nanocellulose within five years.