Materials startup ecosystem
We track 6 organisations in this sector across 4+ countries.
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Exeger
Exeger is a Stockholm-based deep-tech company that manufactures Powerfoyle, a patented, silicon-free dye-sensitised solar-cell material that converts both indoor and outdoor light into electricity. Founded in 2008 by entrepreneur Giovanni Fili and scientist Dr Henrik Lindström — joint winners of the European Inventor Award in 2021 — the company spent a decade developing and patenting the technology before scaling commercial production at two factories in Kista, Stockholm. Powerfoyle is integrated as a thin, flexible film directly into product surfaces, removing the need for charging cables or disposable batteries. Shipping products span headphones and earbuds (Urbanista, adidas), cycling helmets (POC), professional hearing protection (3M Peltor), digital shelf labels (VusionGroup), remote controls (Philips, Hama) and IoT sensors. Exeger has raised over €169M from backers including SoftBank, Swedish pension fund AMF, the European Investment Bank (€35M InvestEU loan) and Fortum, and in late 2025 secured a SEK 130M grant from the Swedish Energy Agency and was selected for the NATO DIANA defence accelerator.
ExoMatter
AI-driven materials-discovery platform spun out of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) that accelerates identification of novel materials by up to 90%. Clients including Audi, Airbus and Infineon use it to focus R&D on the most promising candidates.
Fashion for Good
Fashion for Good is an Amsterdam-based innovation platform and accelerator dedicated to making the fashion industry more sustainable and circular. Launched in 2017 with backing from founding partner Laudes Foundation (formerly C&A Foundation), Fashion for Good runs a 9-month accelerator program for startups developing technologies or business models that improve fashion’s environmental or social impact. Focus areas include innovative materials (e.g. bio-based fibers, textile recycling), new dyeing and finishing processes, circular business models (rental, resale), and supply chain traceability solutions. Each batch (around 10 companies) receives coaching, pilot opportunities, and a small grant; uniquely, the program is venture client-oriented: Fashion for Good’s corporate partners – which include Adidas, Kering, PVH, Stella McCartney, C&A and other major brands – collaborate with the startups to test and implement their innovations. For example, early cohort member Ambercycle (USA) has partnered with Adidas on textile recycling pilots, and Pili Bio (France) worked with brands on microbial dyes. In addition to the accelerator, Fashion for Good runs Scaling Programs for more mature innovators to facilitate larger deals (often joint ventures or first-of-a-kind factory deployments). It also operates a public Experience Museum in Amsterdam showcasing sustainable fashion and educating consumers. By 2022, Fashion for Good had accelerated over 125 startups, helping many secure follow-on funding – alumni have collectively raised hundreds of millions. Notable graduates include Renewcell (Sweden, textile recycling, IPO’d), Natural Fiber Welding (US, plant-based leather, now partnering with Ralph Lauren) and Circular.Fashion (Germany, circular design SaaS acquired by Zalando). Fashion for Good’s success lies in its consortium approach: besides brands, it engages manufacturers and investors (like AccelR8, a fashion-focused VC) to ensure innovations can actually be adopted at scale. Its impact is tangible – alumni like Orange Fiber (Italy, citrus-based silk) have seen their materials used in collections by H&M and Ferragamo. As the fashion industry faces pressure to reduce waste and emissions, Fashion for Good has positioned Amsterdam as a key nexus of fashion tech and sustainability, proving that collaboration across the value chain can accelerate the transition to a Good Fashion future.
Oskar Zięta
Architect and designer who developed FiDU technology at ETH Zurich — a process of inflating flat laser-cut steel into three-dimensional forms. He leads Zieta Studio in Wrocław across industrial design, art and architecture; his PLOPP stool is a widely recognised example of the technique.
Techtextil 2026
International trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens in Frankfurt, bringing together 1,500+ exhibitors and 30,000+ visitors from across the advanced materials sector. Day tickets cost about EUR 30-60. Particularly valuable for smart fabrics, wearable tech, and advanced materials startups seeking industrial partnerships.
Techtextil 2028
Techtextil, the biennial trade fair for technical and high-tech textiles, returns to Messe Frankfurt 4-7 April 2028 alongside co-located event Texprocess. The fair showcases national and international exhibitors across twelve application areas of technical textiles. It is part of Messe Frankfurt's global Texpertise textile business network.
