Materiom is delighted to have been awarded philanthropic funding from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Builders Vision respectively. These grants support Materiom’s further development of AI software designed to accelerate innovation and adoption of bio-based, compostable alternatives to plastics.
“We are thrilled to have these accomplished philanthropic partners behind us. Their support will enable us to take our work with next-generation materials producers and their brand partners to the next level,” said Alysia Garmulewicz, Materiom co-CEO and founder.
Materiom is working on AI-driven solutions to address key bottlenecks faced by novel bio-based materials producers and brands — specifically, reducing time and cost to market through faster identification of high-performance materials that can be manufactured at scale.
“These partnerships will help us advance datasets and AI models in close collaboration with innovators working to displace millions of units of single-use plastic,” said Garmulewicz. “Helping them get their materials and products into the hands of consumers faster can play a catalytic role in addressing the root cause of the plastics crisis.”
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing AI and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on our most pressing challenges, including digital health, climate change, broad digital access, and data maturity in the social sector.
"Confronting the global plastics crisis demands innovation that reimagines material systems at the core,” said Vilas Dhar, President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. “By applying AI to accelerate the development of bio-based, compostable materials, Materiom is advancing solutions that address one of the most urgent environmental issues of our time. This partnership reflects our conviction that data and AI, driven by bold ideas, can catalyze systemic change for the benefit of both people and the planet."
Builders Vision harnesses innovative capital – from grantmaking to market-rate investments – to accelerate promising solutions in three sectors: food & agriculture, energy and oceans. The organization works alongside entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to help grow and transform markets that generate both financial returns and sustainable outcomes for a more resilient future. Through this approach, Builders Vision pursues market-building philanthropy that supports sustainable innovations at their earliest stages and provides the critical resources needed for growth. Within its Oceans portfolio, a core focus is reducing ocean plastic pollution by advancing alternative materials that can reach commercial scale.
“We know that one of the most effective system interventions to address ocean plastic pollution is replacing traditional plastics with bio-based alternatives,” said Jelani Odlum, Program Officer of Oceans at Builders Vision. “Materiom’s technology and approach are designed to accelerate research and development timelines while improving performance, cost and partnerships to bring these materials to market faster. We’re proud to support their work to build a regenerative materials ecosystem that can reduce reliance on single-use plastics and ultimately improve the health of our ocean.”
