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Every project supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung is made accessible with a web presentation that informs about the core data of the project. With this public presentation, the foundation publishes the funding results achieved and contributes to the communication of science to society.

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KUORI – waste turns material

Editorial

Für den Inhalt der Angaben zeichnet die Projektleitung verantwortlich.

Project data

  • Project no: GRS-049/21 
  • Amount of funding: CHF 150'000 
  • Approved: 05.07.2021 
  • Duration: 09.2021 - 04.2023 
  • Area of activity:  First Ventures, seit 2018

Project management

Project description

The cleantech start-up KUORI develops and sells circular, innovative materials that are produced with the help of food side streams such as banana peel or nutshells. In the spirit of the circular economy, KUORI materials should be elastic, of biological origin and biodegradable. Their first application as a B2B material manufacturer is in shoe soles to prevent the harmful abrasion of microplastics into soil and water.

Status/Results

During the project duration with GRS, KUORI developed from a student’s project to a founded start-up with a skilled team. The research partnership with the FHNW is ongoing and several industry partnerships such as with Wildling Shoes were established. In fall 2022, KUORI successfully managed to obtain funding amounting to CHF 0.5 million which ensures the business continuation for the coming year. We are continuing with further prototyping and lab as well as field tests to improve our material and develop a composite that fulfils all performance criteria. KUORI is further growing and hiring new support in R&D as well as looking for new partners and customers for a pilot series.

Links

Persons involved in the project

KUORI core team:
Sarah Kim Harbarth, Co-Founder & CEO
Taja Bornand, Co-Founder & CFO
Dr. Christian Goldhahn, CTO
Raul Schweizer, COO
Nils Repond, Research assistant
Thibaut Wenger, Marketing assistant
Marie Klock, Social media assistant

External Project Partners:
Material Design: Prof. Dr. Christian Rytka
Technical Realisation: Simone Battaglia
Graphic Design and Communication: Benjamin Kunz
R&D Support: Lucca Koller
IT Support: Florian Frei

Last update to this project presentation  18.03.2024