Mykor

Mykor is a UK biotechnology company that develops low-carbon construction products made by converting industrial and agricultural biomass residues — material typically incinerated or landfilled — into insulating building systems. Its product range comprises MykoSIP INTERNAL, structurally insulated panels for partition walls; MykoSIP EXTERNAL, structurally insulated panels for external walls; and MykoBead, a loose infill insulation. The company describes the products as fire-resistant, thermal and acoustic performing, carbon sequestering, circular, non-toxic and affordable, positioned as alternatives to conventional insulation materials such as polystyrene, wood fibre, mineral wool and masonry insulation.

The registered entity, MYKOR LTD (company number 13133250), was incorporated on 14 January 2021 with a registered office at Unit 44, Station Road Workshops, Station Road, Kingswood, Bristol. Its registered activities are the manufacture of other products of wood, cork, straw and plaiting materials, and other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering. Mykor states it employs 20 people across three sites in the UK and Portugal, with a team spanning construction, manufacturing, materials science, engineering and biotechnology.

Rather than acting solely as a materials manufacturer, Mykor presents itself as a technology and process platform intended to let contractors and manufacturers integrate biomaterials into existing production lines and construction systems. Its manufacturing approach combines engineered fungal strains, green chemistry additives and automated industrial production, and the company states its process yields products in a few days with low energy requirements.

Founding story

Mykor was co-founded by Olivia Page (CEO) and Valentina Dipietro (COO), and describes itself as a female-founded company with a diverse team. Sources differ on the founding year: Tech.eu reports 2021 and Vestbee reports 2020, while the UK corporate entity MYKOR LTD was incorporated on 14 January 2021.

Business model

Mykor manufactures and sells biobased insulation and wall systems, and positions itself as a technology and process platform enabling contractors and manufacturers to integrate biomaterials into existing production lines and construction supply chains. It has signed large offtake agreements with contractors in the UK and Europe and plans to expand manufacturing through existing industrial partners.

Sale of construction products — structurally insulated panels (MykoSIP internal and external) and loose infill insulation (MykoBead) — with volume supply underpinned by offtake agreements with contractors.

Traction

The company reports 20 employees across three sites in the UK and Portugal, active construction projects, and large signed offtake agreements with contractors across the UK and Europe. It raised £960K in July 2024 and £4M in May 2026, taking total funding to £7.5M, and was nominated twice for The Earthshot Prize in 2024 and again for the 2025 edition by Casa do Impacto and Web Summit Lisbon.

Latest developments

In May 2026 Mykor announced £4 million in funding led by Clean Growth Fund, with participation from the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund via The FSE Group, Green Angel Ventures, and support from Innovate UK's investor partnership programme, bringing total funding to £7.5 million. The proceeds are earmarked for scaling production, expanding manufacturing through existing industrial partners, and growing deployment across UK and European markets.