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MYCELIUM INNOVATION

Reimagining Materials for a
Greener Tomorrow

Our Mission

Our mission is to drive sustainability by creating high-performance, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional and synthetic leather. We are committed to transforming the leather industry with innovative biomaterials that drastically reduce environmental impact while preserving the durability, functionality, and aesthetic excellence consumers expect.

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Water Pollution & Overconsumption
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Water Pollution & Overconsumption

Our revolutionizing materials with a clean, water-light process—creating premium leather alternatives without harming people or the planet.

Air Pollution & Untapped Agricultural Waste
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Air Pollution &
Untapped Agricultural Waste

We transform this waste into wonder—using agricultural residue to grow sustainable mycelium leather, turning pollution into purpose.

The Leather Industry’s Environmental Toll
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The Leather Industry’s Environmental Toll

Mico is pioneering a future where leather is grown, not killed—our mycelium-based material is 100% cruelty-free, biodegradable, and planet-positive.

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About Mico

Say goodbye to traditional leather. Say hello to Mico.

At Mico, we’re not just creating a new material—we’re building a better future. Our mycelium-based leather is made from the root-like structures of mushrooms, grown naturally and sustainably to give you a product that’s as kind to the planet as it is luxurious to the touch.

Traditional leather comes at a cost: deforestation, toxic chemicals, and animal cruelty. Synthetic leather? It’s often just plastic in disguise—non-biodegradable and harmful to the environment. We knew there had to be a better way.

That’s why we turned to nature. Using cutting-edge biotechnology, we grow our leather from mycelium—no animals, no plastics, no pollution. Just a clean, eco-friendly process that produces a material that’s soft, strong, and designed to last.

Whether it’s a handbag, a car seat, or a pair of sleek sneakers, Mico leather looks and feels like the real thing—only better. It’s breathable, flexible, and fully customizable—perfect for conscious consumers who want style without compromise.

You don’t have to choose between sustainability and sophistication. With Mico, you get both.

Make the switch. Support nature. Choose innovation. Wear the future.

Mico—grown by nature, designed for you.

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We started MICO not just to build sustainable materials — but to reconnect people with nature. What began as a humble experiment in a lab is now a growing movement powered by science, fungi, and a shared vision.

Arpit Mangal

Planet-Positive Leather

Mycelium-based, chemical-free, fast-composting, and ultra-low emission alternative to animal leather

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Ethical Evolution

No animals, no plastic — just a responsible material for mindful lifestyles.

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Waste to Worth

Made from agricultural residue, uplifting farmers and redefining sustainable fashion.

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Air Pollution & Untapped Agricultural Waste
Water Pollution & Overconsumption
The Leather Industry’s Environmental Toll

Our Team

At Mico, we are a group of passionate engineers and designers, backed by professors from leading IITs, who’ve embarked on an exciting journey into the world of mycelium-based leather. Our mission is to develop sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to conventional leather, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in material science and eco-conscious fashion.

Arpit Mangal

Founder & CEO

Arpit, a sustainability-focused engineer and entrepreneur with 3 years of product leadership at uBreathe, aims to make sustainability the norm.

Vaibhav Kushwaha

Company Lead

Young Industrial Designer Vaibhav,  startup experience. Explored ventures, holds 4 design registrations, and started sustainable lifestyle brand MICO.

Dr. Sharfaa Hussain

Scientific Advisor

Ph.D. researcher Sharfaa, Specializes in air quality, ecotoxicology, biomonitoring, and atmospheric heavy metal analysis, aiming for NET ZERO solutions.

Dr. Prabhat Agnihotri

Scientific Advisor

Associate Professor at IIT Ropar Expertise in the multiscale behavior of composite materials, offering support in Tech development & product testing.

Dr. Vivek Jaiswal

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Vivek Jaiswal, Professor at PDEU, specializes in nanomaterials, catalysis, and sustainable energy with a Ph.D. from IIT Ropar.

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Scientific Advisor

Dr. Vivek Jaiswal, Professor at PDEU, specializes in nanomaterials, catalysis, and sustainable energy with a Ph.D. from IIT Ropar.

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Advisor

Dr. Vivek Jaiswal, Professor at PDEU, specializes in nanomaterials, catalysis, and sustainable energy with a Ph.D. from IIT Ropar.

Our Impact

From Waste to Wardrobe — And Back to Soil

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Fully Circular

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Lower Emissions

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Safe Tanning

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Biobased

Meet the Team

At Mico, we are a group of passionate engineers and designers, backed by professors from leading IITs, who’ve embarked on an exciting journey into the world of mycelium-based leather. Our mission is to develop sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to conventional leather, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in material science and eco-conscious fashion.

Arpit Mangal CEO

Arpit Mangal

Founder & CEO

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Vaibhav

Vaibhav Kushwaha

Company Lead

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Dr. Vivek Jaiswal

Dr. Vivek Jaiswal

Scientific Advisor

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Dr. Prabhat Agnihotri

Dr. Prabhat Agnihotri

Scientific Advisor

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Dr. Sharfaa Hussain

Scientific Advisor

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Karandeep Singh Vohra

Karandeep Singh Vohra

Advisor

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AR Harikrishnan

Dr.  Harikrishnan A R

Scientific Advisor

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R&D Showcase

View real lab and experiment images that build our credibility in the field of sustainable materials.

Mico Culture & Lab

Spore to Start: Culturing Mycelium

Mycelium begins its growth journey in a petri dish under sterile conditions.

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Thick layers of mycelium form naturally over time.

Dense Growth

Myco Mycelium Mat

Supporting the growth of mycelium mats — turning farm residues into future material.

Mycelium Mat

Mic & Lab

Refined Mycelium Material

Post-processing transforms raw mycelium into flexible, leather-like sheets.

Supported By

IIT Ropar Logo
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ITIC IIT Hyderabad Logo
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Awards and Recognitions

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Piwot Conference
Piwot Conference
Piwot Conference
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Piwot Conference
Piwot Conference
Piwot Conference
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Piwot Conference
Piwot Conference
Piwot Conference
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PIWOT Conference Material Presentation
Shastri Conference
PIWOT Conference Poster Presentation
PIWOT Conference Material Presentation
Shastri Conference
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PIWOT Conference Material Presentation
Shastri Conference
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SHASTRI CONFERENCE

Shastri Indo-Canadian Conference 2025 at IIT Ropar focused on fostering global collaboration in sustainable innovation, especially in areas of applied science and material research. We participated through both poster and oral presentations, showcasing our work on mycelium-based leather. Our oral presentation was recognized with an award, highlighting our R&D journey from culture selection to eco-friendly material development.

PIWOT CONFERENCE

The PIWOT Conference at IIT Ropar brought together researchers, startups, and technologists to explore advances in deep-tech and innovation. We presented our end-to-end R&D process — from fungal culture and substrate formulation to the creation of final mycelium-based leather material — demonstrating MICO’s contribution to sustainable material innovation.

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