Estonian below
Tallinn-based startup Gelatex is selected as one of 10 startups to join The Heritage Group Accelerator Powered by Techstars, a new US-based startup accelerator focused on reinventing traditional industries.
Gelatex, a materials science startup which develops eco-friendly textiles which are both non-toxic and chemically identical to leather, was selected as one of 10 startups for the inaugural class of The Heritage Group Accelerator Powered by Techstars. The 3-month startup accelerator is based in Indianapolis, USA and aims to support companies seeking to disrupt traditional industries, spanning advanced materials, chemicals, construction, infrastructure, and environmental services. In addition to Estonia, the program also has companies representing the United States, Canada and Germany.
Gelatex joined the Techstars program to gain wider exposure to players in the fashion industry, and gain access to US investors. “We have developed our technology over the past 3 years and have gained considerable traction: several global luxury brands are interested in using our textiles. We feel that now is the time to accelerate our activities to bring the product to market faster,” comments Gelatex co-founder Mari-Ann Meigo Fonseca. “The US is at the forefront of bringing disruptive innovations to market, and we believe that participating in the accelerator will help us to do the same.”
Gelatex co-founder and CTO Märt-Erik Martens adds that Gelatex will benefit tremendously from industry connections with The Heritage Group, a privately held portfolio of companies involved traditional industries. “Besides gaining the tools to develop sales and attract investment, we hope the program will be able to dramatically accelerate our product development through partnerships via this global company,” says Martens. Finally, the accelerator program also offers Gelatex an initial investment of 120 000 USD to expand product development and operations.
About Gelatex
Gelatex is a materials science startup founded in 2016 in Tallinn, Estonia, with the mission to make eco-friendly materials accessible to everyone. Namely, they aim to manufacture textiles that are affordable, scalable, and chemical-free.
Gelatex is currently tackling the problem that 95% of all leather today is made with toxic chemicals and eco-friendly solutions are not scalable. It has developed the first non-toxic, eco-friendly textile that is chemically identical to leather and easy produce in mass-scale. The material is made from gelatin derived from the waste material from the leather and meat industry, adding value for the an abundant waste material. Material is chemically identical to leather but comes in rolls, it is made using no toxic chemicals and its production is fast and environmentally friendly.
Gelatex has been supported until now by Estonian Ministry of Environment, Climate-KIC (Cleantech Estonia), Prototron, Enterprise Estonia, Archimedes, Horizon2020 SME Instrument and others.
About The Heritage Group Accelerator Powered by Techstars
The Heritage Group Accelerator Powered by Techstarsis a mentorship-driven accelerator which supports companies that aim to reinvent traditional industries. The accelerator was founded as a partnership between The Heritage Group (THG), and seed-stage accelerator Techstars. It will take place at The Center, THG’s purpose-built facility in Indianapolis that is also home to HG Ventures, THG’s venture capital arm, and Heritage Research Group, THG’s central research and development laboratory.
Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Techstars founders connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporations to grow their companies. Techstars operates three divisions: Techstars Startup Programs, Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Programs, and Techstars Corporate Innovation Partnerships. Techstars accelerator portfolio includes more than 1,900 companies with a market cap of $23 Billion. Less than 1% of applicants are accepted.
Additional information:
Mari-Ann Meigo Fonseca, Co-Founder and CEO of Gelatex
E-mail: mariann@gelatex.com
Website: http://www.gelatex.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gela_tex/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gelatex/
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Eesti materjaliteaduse idufirma Gelatex liitus USA Techstarsi kiirendiga
Keskkonnasõbralikku nahasarnast tekstiili arendav eestlaste loodud ettevõte Gelatex pääses kümne idufirma seas USA Techstars Heritage Group kiirendisse ning loodab programmi abil innovatsiooni peagi turule tuua.
Indianapolises asuv Techstarsi kiirendi pakub Gelatexile kolm kuud kestvat intensiivset mentorprogrammi ning investeerib ettevõttesse 120 000 dollarit. Kiirendiprogramm on loodud koostöös kohaliku konglomeraadiga Heritage Group, mis tegutseb keskkonna-, keemia-, ja materjalitehnoloogia alal. Lisaks Eesti ettevõttele on programmis osalejad USAst, Kanadast ja Saksamaalt.
"Valdkond, milles tegutseme on väga aja- ja kapitalimahukas ning eelkõige loodame programmist saada teadmisi ja kontakte sellise käivet veel mitte tekitava idufirma arendamiseks ja investorite kaasamiseks. Oleme juba ligi 3 aastat toodet arendanud ning äratanud mitmete tuntud luksusbrändide huvi, mistõttu tunneme, et toote turustamiseks on nüüd aeg tegevusi kiirendada. Maailmamuutva potentsiaaliga innovatsioonide turule toomisel on USA eesrinnas ja usume, et Techstarsis osalemine aitab ka meil sinna jõuda," ütles Gelatexi kaasasutaja Mari-Ann Meigo Fonseca.
Gelatexi kaasasutaja ja tehnoloogiajuhi Märt-Erik Martensi sõnul on Heritage Groupiga koos loodud kiirendi üks väheseid maailmas, mil on teadmisi materjaliteaduse ning keemia valdkonnas. Seega loodetakse lisaks ärilistele teadmistele saada ka uusi mõtteid tootearenduseks. Lisaks hindavad kaasasutajad kõrgelt Techstarsi rahvusvahelist võrgustikku, mis ka programmi lõppedes laienemisel kasuks on.
Gelatex on 2016. aastast tegutsev materjaliteaduse idufirma, mille eesmärgiks on teha keskkonnasõbralikud materjalid kättesaadavaks kõigile. See tähendab, et materjalid peavad olema ka kiiresti ja efektiivselt masstoodetavad ning mõistliku hinnaga. Hetkel arendab ettevõte keskkonnasõbralikku nahasarnast tekstiili moe- või mööblitööstuse jaoks. Materjali tehakse naha- ja lihatööstuse jääkidest toodetud želatiinist, võimaldades jäätmeid ära kasutades teha ühest loomast kuni 5 korda rohkem materjali. Tekstiil on seejuures keemiliselt identne nahale, kuid tuleb rullidel, on tehtud ilma mürgiseid kemikaale kasutamata ning tootmine on efektiivne ja keskkonnasõbralik.
Gelatexi arengut on seni toetanud Eesti Keskkonnaministeerium, Climate-KIC (Cleantech Estonia), Prototron, EAS, Archimedes, Horizon2020 SME Instrument jt.
Techstars on ärikiirendi, mis asutati 2006. aastal USA-s Colorados. Sellest ajast peale on Techstars kasvanud ülemaailmseks võrgustikuks, mis tegutseb üle 150 riigis ning aitab ettevõtjatel edu saavutada. 2019. aasta seisuga on Techstars aktsepteerinud oma kiirendiprogrammidesse üle 1900 ettevõtte, mille turuväärtus kokku on 23 miljardit dollarit. Vastu võetakse vähem kui 1% taotlejatest.
Lisainfo:
Mari-Ann Meigo Fonseca, Gelatexi kaasasutaja ja tegevjuht
E-mail: mariann@gelatex.com
Veebileht: http://www.gelatex.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gela_tex/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gelatex/
#startup #gelatex #materialsandchemicals
