Bolt Threads

Bolt Threads (founded 2009, Bay Area) engineers proteins and mycelium into performance fibres and materials. Microsilk® is a recombinant spider‑silk protein spun from fermented sugar, while Mylo™ is a soft, flexible mycelium composite grown on beds of organic mulch and finished through chromium‑free tanning. Though Mylo production paused in 2023 amid cost‑inflation, pilot volumes proved scalable to million‑sq‑ft capacity and enabled landmark launches: the Adidas Stan Smith Mylo sneaker upper, Lululemon’s yoga‑wear accessories line and Stella McCartney’s Frayme bag. Bolt holds >50 issued patents covering strain engineering, wet spinning and fibre finishing, and continues to license its b‑silk™ cosmetic protein.