Gozen, a San Francisco-based biocreation start-up founded and led by Ece Gozen, has announced a $3.3 million funding round. The funding comes from Happiness Capital (lead investor), Accelr8, Astor Management, and SOSV. This investment will enable Gozen to accelerate research, development, and scaling efforts for its debut biomaterial, called Lunaform, while also fueling the creation of new materials. Gozen’s high-performing vegan and plastic-free materials are meant to replace traditional materials in the fashion and automotive industries.
Lunaform is produced by microorganisms during a fermentation process and is free from both plastic and animal components, explains Gozen. Its manufacturing method is entirely vegan, non-GMO and avoids the use of harsh synthetic chemicals, claims the company. Furthermore, the production process takes just ten days and bypasses the need for tanning. With the recent investment, the start-up is now progressing with its plans to open a new facility in Turkey, aiming for an annual production capacity of nearly 93,000 square feet.
Lunaform was unveiled in early October during Paris Fashion Week at the Balenciaga Summer 24 show. The partnership with Balenciaga culminated in the Balenciaga Lunaform Maxi Bathrobe Coat, marking the inaugural use of Lunaform in the fashion industry.
