Mark Post-Founded Qorium Unveils 35x35cm Cultivated Leather Sample as “Tangible Proof” of a Promising Future – vegconomist

Qorium, a Dutch biotech startup founded by cultivated meat pioneer Mark Post, has announced a significant milestone in scaling up the production of cultivated leather.
Qorium’s platform combines specifically developed cultured cells with tissue engineering processes to create a product with the same strength, durability, and appearance as animal leather but without its environmental impact.
“This sample is tangible proof that a future where high-quality, high-performing leather can be produced on-demand”
Using a newly scaled-up tissue bioreactor, the biotech company says it has produced a 35x35cm sample of cultivated leather — the first proof of concept for full-scale commercialization of its production process.
CEO Michael Newton shared, “This sample is tangible proof that a future where high-quality, high-performing leather can be produced on-demand, without the animal welfare and environmental disadvantages of traditional material, is just around the corner. The challenge of scaling up a process has been a tough one, and this latest breakthrough is a testament to the hard work of our excellent science and engineering teams.”
Image courtesy of Qorium
Many benefits over traditional leather
Founded in 2021, Qorium has developed technology to create cultivated leather with adjustable properties such as thickness, size, strength, and flexibility, offering consistent quality without compromising performance. Newton said in an interview with Cultivated X that consumers would not notice quality differences compared to natural leather.
In addition to its adjustable parameters, cultivated leather has many benefits over traditional leather. Its production uses significantly less water and energy. It also eliminates animal cruelty and waste from unusable parts of natural hides.
Mark Post shared, “The fact that with a relatively small team, in a relatively short amount of time, we have been able to create high-quality sheets of leather that demonstrate scalable production processes shows that we’re on track towards having a product that’s ready for market. From a science perspective, we still have much work to do, but the principal challenges are now overcome.”
© Qorium
“The future looks promising”
However, as with cultivated meat or any cell-based product, one of the biggest challenges of these innovations is producing at scale to meet demand and achieve competitive costs. Qorium says it is leveraging investment, utilizing existing manufacturing capacity, and forming partnerships to bring the necessary expertise and resources to address scaling challenges.
In 2021, the biotech company raised €2.6 million in a round led by Brightlands Venture Partners and, earlier this year, secured additional funds again from Brightlands Venture Partners and Sofinnova Partners. It also appointed Michael Newton, a former Nike senior executive, as its CEO to drive the commercial scale of sustainable leather.
“The future certainly looks very promising for cellular agriculture”
Following the funding round, Qorium hired Eva Smets as its chief financial officer and head of strategy to accelerate its growth. It also invested in new equipment at its laboratory at Maastricht University. Moreover, Qorium says it is collaborating with high-end fashion and automotive brands to co-develop its materials, aiming to become a scaled supplier.
“The next pieces of the puzzle are focused on continued product optimization, cost reduction, and process engineering, where we’re already seeing very positive progress. The future certainly looks very promising for cellular agriculture,” Post added.

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