Dutch biotech company Qorium has closed a €22 million Series A round to advance its cultivated leather technology.
The round was led by Invest-NL, the Dutch state’s national impact investment fund focused on sustainable innovation, and LIOF, the official regional development agency for the Dutch province of Limburg. They were joined by existing investors Brightlands Venture Partners and Sofinnova Partners. A group of private high net worth individuals also joined the round.
The Invest-NL investment comes through the InvestEU guarantee scheme of the European Commission. This brings Qorium’s total funding to €30 million, following an €8 million seed round.
Meeting Demand for Sustainable Real Leather
The cultivated leather market is growing as brands seek consistent, high-quality alternatives to traditional animal leather. In fact, a 2024 report from research firm Future Market Insights projects the global cultivated leather market will grow at a rapid 18.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next decade (Source: Future Market Insights).
Qorium produces real leather from animal cells without livestock farming. The process creates uniform material while reducing waste and environmental impact compared to conventional leather production.
“This investment is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission to transform the leather industry,” says Qorium CEO Michael Newton. “By combining cutting-edge science with deep leather expertise and sustainable practices, we are creating real leather that offers better performance than traditional animal-derived leather, without the environmental and ethical costs. With Invest-NL, LIOF, and others now on board, we can take the next steps towards reinventing real leather and bring it to market at scale.”
Funding Will Support Production Scale-Up
Qorium plans to use the capital to expand manufacturing capacity at its Maastricht facilities. The company is currently installing new bioreactor systems and has secured several commercial partnerships. The funding will enable Qorium to increase production volumes and move closer to market launch.
The company has already demonstrated the viability of its technology. It’s successfully producing cultivated leather samples and working with partners to test material performance across different applications.
From Research Lab to Commercial Production
Qorium was founded on research by Dr. Mark Post, a renowned physiology professor and co-founder of Mosa Meat (the company that created the world’s first cultivated hamburger), and leather industry veteran Rutger Ploem, who brings deep expertise from running his family’s traditional hide trading and tannery business.
The company emerged from scientific breakthroughs in cellular agriculture. It combines biotechnology with traditional leather expertise to create material that matches the quality and characteristics of conventional leather.
Qorium operates from Maastricht, where it has established production facilities and research operations. The company’s approach focuses on replicating the natural leather formation process at a cellular level, eliminating the need for animal husbandry while maintaining the authentic properties that make leather valuable.
The team includes specialists in biotechnology, materials science, and leather manufacturing. This combination allows Qorium to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial-scale production.
Growing Investor Support for Cellular Materials
“At Invest-NL, we invest in technologies that drive systemic change. Qorium’s leather is a breakthrough innovation that can transform one of the world’s most polluting industries,” says Lisette Kersting-van der Boog from Invest-NL. “By producing real leather without livestock, Qorium shows how biotechnology can build a more sustainable materials system. We are proud to support this Dutch frontrunner in scaling their impact.”
Guillaume Baxter, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, adds: “We’ve been on this journey with Qorium from the start, backing both the science of Dr. Mark Post and the deep leather experience of Rutger Ploem. This investment reflects Qorium’s impressive progress to date and our strong belief in the economic and sustainability potential of its leather. We are confident that this momentum will only continue.”
The company will appoint a new board director in the coming weeks as it prepares for its next growth phase.
