Bioworks lands $631K from KKT for plant-based synthetic fibre PlaX
What's the deal? KKTDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Tokyo-based qualified institutional investor, has invested US$769.2K (roughly $631,000) in BioworksDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Kyoto materials company developing the plant-derived synthetic fibre PlaX. The late-stage round, announced in October 2026, was structured as a third-party allotment of 21 common shares at US$36.9K each.
What's the endgame? Bioworks makes PlaX from polylactic acid (PLA), derived from feedstocks such as sugarcane, blended with its own plant-based additives to fix the strength and dyeing problems that limited earlier PLA. It targets fashion, sports and outdoor wear, consumer goods, and industrial materials as a replacement for petroleum-based polyester.
Why now? PlaX is shifting from development toward commercialisation. GoldwinDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has begun selling PlaX-based products through THE NORTH FACEDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and NEUTRALWORKS, and other apparel brands have adopted the material.
The company claims PlaX cuts CO₂ emissions versus polyester by 70% for long-fibre production and 50% for short-fibre, and reduces water use by 92% against cotton from raw material to yarn, according to Bioworks figures.
Where the money goes: Bioworks will spend the funds on development and patent costs, staffing and outsourcing, and working capital. KKT plans to use its networks in sports, tourism, food service, and regional business to open routes for PlaX into uniforms, apparel, and hospitality textiles.
"PlaX is a technology from Japan with great potential," said KKT chief executive officer Tamaki Kanemori, pointing to its practicality, design, and path to mass production (translated from Japanese).
What could go wrong? The KKT cheque is modest beside Bioworks's larger industrial test: a Thailand demonstration project, selected for a Japanese government-backed program in 2026, aims to establish local production and processing. That project is budgeted at about US$6.38M, including a planned US$4.08M subsidy, and runs through March 2029.
The signal: Bioworks, founded in 2015 with capital of US$12.7M, reflects a wider push in the textile industry toward decarbonisation and reduced reliance on petroleum feedstocks. The round's significance will hinge on whether brand adoption translates into reliable, cost-competitive production at scale.
Read more: prtimes.jp
Image credit: faungg's photos
