About Arda Biomaterials
Arda Biomaterials is developing novel, circular biopolymers from waste feedstocks, starting with an animal & plastic-free leather alternative called New Grain, created from the rich protein content of waste brewery and distillery grain. By manipulating the waste plant proteins in the grain into collagen-like structures, the material mimics leather whilst omitting the negative impacts of animal agriculture, with less than 3% of the comparative carbon footprint. Critically, due to the quick chemistry process, the abundance and low value of the waste grain, at scale the material can be produced at a lower cost than both animal & plastic leather.
Founders of Arda Biomaterials
Brett Cotten, CEO & Co-Founder
Brett is the CEO & Co-Founder of Arda Biomaterials, a biomaterials start-up creating novel biopolymers from waste, starting with New Grain, an animal & plastic free leather alternative made from waste brewery grain. Arda was founded in June 2022 and the team has subsequently raised over £2M across venture & grant funding, built a laboratory in central London, and is working closely with some of the biggest names in fashion and automotive.
Brett has an MBA for biotech (MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise) from the University of Cambridge and has industry experience having been a founding team member of Counterfactual Ventures – a specialist alternative protein venture studio. Additionally, he has worked with one of the leading early-stage food-tech startups, Arkeon Biotechnologies, which raised a $7M+ seed round in early 2022 to convert CO2 into protein. Brett is also the author of the book Gene-trepreneur, which explores leveraging biotechnology entrepreneurship in food and materials to impact climate.
Edward TJ Mitchell, CTO & Co-Founder
Edward, known as TJ, is the Co-Founder & CTO of Arda Biomaterials, a biomaterials start-up creating novel biopolymers from waste, starting with New Grain, an animal & plastic free leather alternative made from waste brewery grain. Arda was founded in June 2022 and the team has subsequently raised over £2M across venture & grant funding, built a laboratory in central London, and is working closely with some of the biggest names in fashion and automotive.
Prior to founding Arda, TJ completed his DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Oxford working under the supervision of Prof. Paul Beer developing and patenting novel supramolecular sensors. In addition, TJ has a master’s degree in Chemistry (MChem) from Durham University, where he worked on the synthesis of nanographenes.
Following his studies and unsure what to do (other than a bit of travelling), TJ joined talent-investor & start-up incubator Entrepreneur First. It was during this programme that TJ met his co-founder, Brett Cotten, invented the technology behind New Grain, and founded Arda.