Mushroom Material's $8.5m raise could make polystyrene obsolete

Mushroom Material's $8.5m raise could make polystyrene obsolete
Mushroom Material's fungus-based product could pinch polystyrene's markets. (Image: Mushroom Material)
Greg Hurrell
A company founded in New Zealand is on track to upend the packaging industry after raising $8.5 million in seed funding. The funding round will allow Mushroom Material to build a 1,300-square-metre pilot plant in Mt Roskill, Auckland, to prove that its polystyrene substitute is as useful as the highly polluting plastic.The round was led by Singapore-based Wavemaker Partners and Seeds Capital, with contributions from NZ venture capital companies Icehouse Ventures and K1W1, along with Black Kite Capital of Singapore.Mushroom Material was fou...

More Sustainable Finance

IndigiShare is out to shake up Māori business finance
Startups

IndigiShare is out to shake up Māori business finance

The company is seeking $500,000 to run a pilot for koha-based retail transaction fees.

Greg Hurrell 10 Jun 2025
Pathfinder wins ethical KiwiSaver award five out of five times
News in Brief

Pathfinder wins ethical KiwiSaver award five out of five times

The new Community Housing Fund Agency picked up two ethical investment prizes.

Staff reporters 06 Jun 2025
Lodestone Energy completes $50m raise to carry on building
Energy

Lodestone Energy completes $50m raise to carry on building

The solar farm operator is now a player in the electricity market.

Greg Hurrell 05 Jun 2025
BoP businesses asked to foot the bill for Kaimāī's resources
Sustainable Finance

BoP businesses asked to foot the bill for Kaimāī's resources

Local conservation groups don't expect to get much government help in the future.

Greg Hurrell 05 Jun 2025