We accelerate the growth of nature-inspired startups to scale systemic solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
We’re excited to introduce the 10 groundbreaking nature-inspired companies selected for the 2025 cohort!
LANGUAGE FROM PRESS RELEASE HERE
True to the catalytic nature of the Ray of Hope Accelerator, the startups from the 2025 cohort span a range of development stages, from early proof-of-concept through to completed real-world pilots. This cohort is introducing several firsts for the program, including innovations addressing wildfire prevention, biomimicry-enhanced plant cell culture, Amazonian seed-inspired low-wind-speed energy generation and aquatic root-inspired microplastic filters. Each startup uniquely complements the growing portfolio of nature-inspired startups while aligning deeply with the Biomimicry Institute’s mission to address the climate change and biodiversity loss polycrisis through transforming the take-make-waste paradigm by reconnecting people and nature – here’s how:
New York, New York
Reimagines coatings and adhesives that mimic the adhesion strategies of mussels, sticky bacteria, and geckos, using a proprietary plant-based green chemistry with no plastics or harmful solvents required.
SDGs: 3 – Good Health | 12 – Responsible Consumption | 13 – Climate Action
Irvine, California
Pioneers 100% bio-based materials engineered from the molecular level up to mimic the structure and performance of leather. Enabling circularity and reducing carbon footprint, Ecotune’s innovative materials achieve both durability and biodegradability.
SDGs: 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure | 12 – Responsible Consumption | 15 – Life on Land
West Lafayette, Indiana
Develops a catheter for safe, effective blood-clot removal in narrow vessels, using a boa constrictor fang-inspired tip to reduce disability and procedural time. A Purdue University-licensed startup.
SDGs: 3 – Good Health | 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure | 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Boston, Massachusetts
Develops next-generation bio-based surgical adhesives inspired by the Dusky Arion slug’s mucus to rapidly seal bleeding tissue in surgical and trauma care. Spun out of the Wyss Institute at Harvard.
SDGs: 3 – Good Health | 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure | 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Boston, Massachusetts
Mimics the selective metal-binding biology of Amanita mushrooms to recover high-purity vanadium from industrial waste cleanly, efficiently, and at low temperatures, enabling affordable long-duration energy storage and resilient critical mineral supply chains. Advancing technology developed at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
SDGs: 7 – Renewable Energy | 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure | 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Bogotá, Colombia
Develops wind turbine blades inspired by the Triplaris americana seed to enable efficient renewable energy generation at low wind speeds and support distributed power access.
SDGs: 7 – Renewable Energy | 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure | 13 – Climate Action
Princeton, New Jersey
Engineers biomimetic microplastic filters inspired by floating plant roots to efficiently capture and recover microplastics at scale. Spun out of Princeton University.
SDGs: 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation | 14 – Life Below Water | 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure
Emeryville, California
Replicates early cell-like structures as an enabling technology to power efficient, low-carbon biomanufacturing. Spun-out of UCLA.
SDGs: 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure | 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities | 13 – Climate Action
London, United Kingdom
Develops scalable wildfire detection devices that naturally degrade after use. Inspired by heat-activated serotinous pine cones, its bio-based organic electronics provide early wildfire warnings without relying on toxic batteries or electronics. Spun out of Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.
SDGs: 13 – Climate Action | 15 – Life on land | 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure
Every year, we support a cohort of 10 high-impact nature-inspired startups, spanning from Pre-seed to Series A stages and representing various sectors and regions. Each selected startup receives $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and over $50,000 worth of in-kind services. This includes tailored coaching, investor introductions, a four-day Nature Retreat, and comprehensive training materials covering topics such as Impact and Sustainability Business Training, Innovation Storytelling & Amplification, DEI, and Founder Mental Health.
We’re not your typical accelerator. We prioritize your growth as an individual, startup founder, and visionary leader, we emphasize relationship-building, and we foster a vibrant community of innovative startups inspired by nature to drive positive impact. With a proven track record of over 40 thriving companies in our portfolio, we’re ready to support your entrepreneurial journey.
Startups that learn from and mimic biological strategies that have evolved over 3.8 billion years can solve systemic environmental and climate issues.
Including: New Zealand, Denmark, India, Japan, U.S.; we work with startups from around the world.
First-, second-, and third-time founders. Post-docs and ex-corporates. Ages 22 to 58. Diversity is a core value.
Our portfolio companies have raised more than $125M in additional investment since 2020.
ECOncrete offers innovative, robust and environmentally sensitive concrete solutions, designed to encourage development of rich and diverse marine life as an integral part of urban and coastal marine infrastructure such as seawalls, breakwaters, bridge foundations and urban waterfronts.
GreenPod Labs created bio-inspired packaging sachets that release-plant based volatiles to activate the built-in defense mechanism within specific fruits or vegetables, in order to slow down the ripening rate and minimize microbial growth.
Why join the Ray of Hope Accelerator?
A unique program designed for early stage nature-inspired startups that includes $15,000 non-dilutive capital and $50,000 in-kind services. Weekly remote programming (~4hrs), with live expert sessions and workshops via a curriculum tailored to serve your purposes.
Refine your pitch with 1:1 coaching sessions, and present your innovation in an online event to investors, potential partners, customers, and network with key stakeholders.
Spend a week with us starting at Climate Week NYC with a networking reception to connect with investors, corporates and supporters of nature-inspired startups, followed by a four-day Nature Retreat, to reconnect with yourself and your mission, and to build a supportive peer community.
Enhance storytelling skills, visibility, and reach through communications support and content creation. Delve into your impact journey with expert workshops on green chemistry, supply chain sustainability, life-cycle analysis, and more.
Meet experienced, mission-aligned climate impact investors, they will provide insights into sustainable growth and scalability. From unit economic metrics, fundraising strategies, due diligence, to the climate capital stack beyond the lab scale, these sessions will equip you with the strategies needed to succeed.
Gain access to an unparalleled network of nature-inspired enthusiasts, mentors, investors, corporates, and entrepreneurs, with personalized mentorship, matchmaking and opportunities to connect with potential corporate partners to scale and develop proof of concept or pilot projects.
Backing world-changing ventures takes vision, and we’re grateful to have investors who share ours. A selection of mission-aligned investors in our portfolio of nature-inspired companies::
We collaborate with thought leaders to further the adoption of nature-inspired solutions for a regenerative world:
testimonials
The Ray of Hope Accelerator stands out for its ability to forge bonds between participants that are invaluable to early-stage startups. Without it, we wouldn’t have come so far, so quickly. It also strengthened our commitment to sustainability across our company.
Birgitt Bischitisch, Co-Founder & CEO, spotLESS Materials, 2020 cohort
Not only was our startup elevated by the process, but being in the company of other viable nature-inspired solutions empowered us to know that collectively we are making serious progress against seemingly intractable problems.
Brent Cutcliffe, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of New Iridium, 2021 cohort
The Ray of Hope Accelerator is a unique offering in a sea of accelerators. It differentiates itself by a focus on nature-inspired start-ups and a focus on community building and leveraging shared experiences. It is the perfect synergy of purpose, method, action and impact.
Ryan Church, Founder, CEO & CTO of Biome Renewables, 2022 cohort
Be a part of enabling a Nature Positive future by supporting inspirational founders with cutting edge solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges.
news
Biomimicry Institute Launches their Inaugural Co-Lab focused on Buildings, Cities & Infrastructure aimed to catalyze sector-wide shift toward nature-positive solutions.
When “life finds a way” … we should learn from it. The real-life Jurassic world––and every prehistoric world––was full of life, giving rise to species with incredible adaptations and strategies just like the species of…
Here’s a look inside the events, conversations, and collaborations of London Climate Action Week 2025.
The Hive is an online community platform and knowledge hub for biomimicry, designed to bring together the global movement in one place to interact, engage, and support each other as we continue in our own…
Stay up to date about our portfolio and the latest nature-inspired innovations and news.
Ray of Hope Accelerator Videos
Solutions to global challenges are all around us. These examples and the companies behind the incredible innovations have been selected through the Biomimicry Institute’s Ray of Hope Accelerator program.
Tardigrades & Silkworms: Nature’s Secret to Smarter Seed Coatings
Plant-Based Alternatives to Toxic Colorants
A Sustainable Solutions for the Chemistry Industry (Inspired by Nature!)