Biomanufacturing is the use of biological inputs to manufacture products instead of petroleum. Biomanufacturing processes are used to create specialty chemicals, next-generation textiles, and consumer products. As companies look to reduce carbon-intensity, increase supply chain resilience, and move away from fossil fuels, demand for biological inputs continues to increase.
However, today, many biomanufacturing processes rely on centralized, capital‑intensive infrastructure and use feedstocks that compete with food sources. Mothership Materials is on a mission to derive useful molecules from abundant agricultural or industrial organic waste. Historically, unlocking value from these waste streams has been expensive, inefficient, and difficult to scale. The company has developed technology which is designed for modular, on-site conversion of organic waste into cost-competitive second-generation feedstocks which is input and output-flexible and can be used across industries.
Branch Venture Group is proud to invest in Mothership Materials as they scale the adoption of their patented TRACE™ technology. We believe Mothership Materials stands out for three core reasons:
Modular, Proprietary Technology
TRACE™ is Mothership Materials’ patented, continuous‑flow separation platform designed to take in organic waste and break it down into high-value second-generation feedstocks using physics rather than heat or solvents. TRACE™ is modular by design, enabling on‑site deployment instead of centralized, capital-intensive facilities. This modularity allows Mothership Materials to operate close to the source of waste, reducing logistics and maintenance costs. The platform’s flexibility across inputs and outputs positions TRACE™ as foundational infrastructure for the next generation of bio‑based materials, without competing with food systems.
Deeply Technical, Execution-oriented Founding Team
CEO Jo Marini is a multi‑time founder with prior exits and extensive experience building circular supply chains. CSO Dr. Agnes Ostafin, a chemical physicist with 25 years of R&D experience, is the inventor behind TRACE™, and brings decades of research experience translating technologies from lab to application. CTO Dr. Amanda Parkes brings deep expertise in materials science and product commercialization as previous Chief Innovation Officer at Pangaia, and co-founder of Bodega Algae, a biofuels company. She is responsible for the design & engineering of TRACE™ to scale up for commercial use. The team has earned meaningful third‑party validation, including competitive grant funding from the Grow NY competition and as a finalist in the Earthshot Innovation Challenge.
Strong Traction and Opportunities Across Industries
Mothership Materials’ technology targets a large total addressable market for sugars, cellulose, proteins, and lipids – core inputs which can be used across textiles, personal care, fermentation, and specialty chemicals. Despite being in early stages of deployment, they are working with partners across a range of industries and applications, signalling strong demand for their solution. This flexibility means Mothership Materials is positioned for meaningful global impact.
We’re excited to partner with the Mothership Materials team as they build critical infrastructure for a more resilient, circular bioeconomy. To learn more about Mothership Materials, visit their website.
If you’re interested in learning more about our work at Branch Venture Group, please visit our investor page or reach out to info@branchventuregroup.com.