Federal Government Funds Start-up PottPilz

“The funding is a great recognition of our vision to establish sustainable, mycelium-based materials in the construction and office sectors. We are very pleased with the support and the trust in our endeavor,” said Hendrik Wever, co-founder of PottPilz. As an agricultural scientist, he had been engaged for several years with the idea of developing natural materials based on mycelium—the root network of mushrooms. In discussions with his cousin Lennard Bennemann—a chemical engineer and TU Dortmund University alumnus with a penchant for circular economy—the project gradually took shape. From that initial idea emerged an intensive collaboration that eventually culminated in the start-up PottPilz. “For us, it is a unique opportunity to now work full-time on our project with scientific freedom thanks to the EXIST funding,” added the founding team.

With the EXIST startup grant, founding teams receive twelve months of funding to develop a business plan and prepare for their company formation with the support of a university or research institution. During the funding period, PottPilz is developing an innovative flooring system within the “MycoFloor” project. It is based on domestic agricultural residues—such as straw—which are fused by mushroom mycelium into a solid, natural floor. The result: a circular construction material with strong sustainability credentials. The goal is to develop a product whose properties are comparable to a cork floor—functional, ecological, and aesthetically appealing.

Close Ties with TU Dortmund University and the Region

The team is closely connected with TU Dortmund University, where Lennard Bennemann previously studied Chemical Engineering. It is in close exchange with the startup advisory of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Transfer (CET) as well as with the university's research institutions. The startup is particularly supported by Prof. Jörg Tiller from the Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, who conducts research in the fields of biomaterials and polymer sciences. He assists the two founders with his know-how and experience, and furthermore provides access to an established infrastructure. This networking enables a targeted further development of the product and access to relevant research.

As a startup with roots in Dortmund and Hamm, the PottPilz team is closely connected to the region. This spring, the founders were accepted into greenhouse.ruhr program of the Economic Development Agency Dortmund and benefit from individualized coaching as well as a strong regional network. Their vision is to establish not just a single product, but an entire category of regionally produced, biodegradable, and architecturally appealing materials.