Holon Bionics lands VivaTech 2026 Tech For Change spot

Holon Bionics, the biomaterial brand of South Korea’s Heri Farm’s Inc., has been selected as a VivaTech 2026 Tech For Change startup and will show its PU-free mycelium materials in Paris from June 17 to 20. The recognition gives the company global exposure as it pushes certified alternatives to plastic-based vegan leather toward commercial use. Why it matters: - Holon Bionics is pitching a PU-free mycelium material at a time when luxury brands are under pressure to move away from conventional leather and plastic-based vegan leather. - The company says its certified materials are nearing commercialization, with European brand validation and new manufacturing scale-up still ahead. - VivaTech’s Tech For Change label gives the startup visibility in front of investors, partners and buyers at one of Europe’s largest tech events. What happened: - VivaTech selected Holon Bionics as a 2026 Tech For Change startup in June 2026. - Holon Bionics will exhibit at VivaTech 2026 in Paris from June 17 to 20. - The company plans to show engineered mycelium material samples and application prototypes. - The selection places Holon Bionics among about 500 startups recognized across VivaTech’s Environment, Society and Health categories. The details: - Tech For Change is VivaTech’s impact recognition program for exhibiting startups with measurable positive impact, technological innovation and commercial viability. - The program includes dedicated visibility across VivaTech’s platform and the four-day on-site event. - VivaTech runs the program with Axionable as Knowledge Partner, plus Envision Group, UNESCO, WWF and Les Echos-Le Parisien as media partner. - Holon Bionics says its HolonFabric™ platform makes engineered mycelium materials without PU coatings or synthetic reinforcements. - The company says HolonLink™ provides natural crosslinking and structural integrity through the mycelium’s 3D biological architecture. - The HolonTex™ System is designed to improve performance, surface quality and finishing compatibility for industrial use. - The Korean government granted the technology NET, or New Excellent Technology, certification. - Holon Bionics says its materials cut CO₂ emissions by 92% versus conventional animal leather, while using 98% less water and 99% less land. - The company holds OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification from TESTEX, plus ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. - Holon Bionics says the certification mix supports EU Digital Product Passport compliance and broader trust with luxury brands. - The company has 5 registered mycelium strain patents, 2 registered technology patents, 3 pending technology patents and additional domestic and international filings, including PCT applications. - Holon Bionics says it built production capacity above 43,000 square feet a year and runs strain development, cultivation, mat formation and finishing in-house. - Heri Farm’s Inc. says 28 years of mushroom cultivation helped build a group of seven affiliated companies with annual fresh mushroom production capacity of 5,350 metric tons. - Holon Bionics is in advanced paid sample validation with multiple European luxury brands. - The company is raising KRW 10 billion, or about $7.2 million, in Series A funding for tannery optimization and production scale-up. - Holon Bionics targets annual production of 7.1 million square feet by 2031. - CEO Sung-hyuk IM said the company plans to keep moving until its materials become “a real answer” for fashion, industry and the planet. Between the lines: - The VivaTech selection helps Holon Bionics signal credibility in a crowded biomaterials market where many alternatives still depend on plastics or lack broad certification. - The company is trying to pair technical claims with regulatory readiness, which matters as EU rules on carbon reporting, product passports and PFAS restrictions tighten. - The funding target suggests Holon Bionics is moving from pilot-stage validation toward the capital-intensive work needed for scale. What’s next: - Holon Bionics will use VivaTech to court global visitors and potential commercial partners. - The company will continue sample validation with European luxury brands as it seeks full commercial agreements. - A successful Series A could finance the production buildout needed to reach the 2031 scale target. The bottom line: - Holon Bionics is trying to turn certified mycelium into a mainstream material option just as luxury brands face stronger pressure to replace leather and PU-based substitutes.