Startup
Spiber
Spiber株式会社
#10 in the Japan Top 100 Startups
| Founded / HQ | 2007 · Tsuruoka, Yamagata |
|---|---|
| Cumulative raised | ≥ ¥39.4B “50億円（2018）＋244億円（2021）＋100億円超（2024）” Summed by The Raising Sun from disclosed rounds · as of 12 Apr 2024 · Spiber releases (summed by us) Sum of disclosed equity rounds only (pre-2018 rounds not included). STARTUP DB lists a registry-based cumulative of ¥141.9B, which includes the ¥10B 2021 securitisation and the 2025 Cool Japan Fund recapitalisation (no new money). |
| Last round | 1 Apr 2026 · Restructuring · Undisclosed |
| Latest public valuation | ¥133Breported 約1,330億円 (post-money, 2021) · 2021-09 · STARTUP DB via CNET Japan |
| Key investors | Carlyle, Cool Japan Fund |
| Unicorn | Yes |
| Website | spiber.inc |
From Japanese sources
Findings from Japanese-language filings, government records, trade press, interviews and job posts, with our English analysis. Items tagged Japanese-only had no English coverage when we checked quickly. Most insightful first.
| 2026-03-26 | Trade pressJapanese-onlyTokyo Shoko Research: Spiber to seek special liquidation after transfer; FY2025 net loss ¥43.8B バイオベンチャーのSpiber、事業譲渡後に特別清算 ～ ユニコーン企業、2025年12月期は438億円の最終赤字 ～ TSR puts the old Spiber's FY2025 net loss at ¥43.8B, with about ¥30B of excess liabilities, mainly financial debt. Special liquidation is expected roughly two years out, once the US subsidiary is wound up. English reports covered Maya Kawana's takeover but rarely these loss and creditor details, which show what lenders and investors actually lost. Source: Tokyo Shoko Research |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-25 | Trade pressUnicorn Spiber enters out-of-court workout; business goes to new company led by Masayoshi Son's daughter ユニコーンのスパイバーが私的整理 孫正義氏長女の新会社に事業譲渡 This was the first report of the private workout (私的整理), with lender debt restructured before Maya Kawana's CRANE takes over the business. It is a landmark case of a Japanese unicorn being rescued rather than going bankrupt. Nikkei Asia carried it in English. Source: Nikkei |
Overview
Spiber, based in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, ferments engineered microbes to produce 'Brewed Protein' fibres and materials, an animal- and petroleum-free alternative to silk, wool and cashmere. Fashion brands such as Stella McCartney, The North Face (Goldwin) and Issey Miyake buy the material for collections, and in 2026 it began offering its protein-production know-how as a contract service (SPIBER BIOFOUNDRY). After raising roughly ¥100B over its life, much of it via asset-backed and project finance, it struck a business-support deal in December 2025 and transferred its business to a 'new Spiber' in April 2026, with founder Kazuhide Sekiyama stepping back from management.
Built from: Newsroom · New Spiber notice
Company timeline
Founded
| Date | 2007-09-26· JPAA Kanto interview |
|---|---|
| Founders | Kazuhide Sekiyama, Junichi Sugahara |
| Origin | Two Keio University bioinformatics students began spider-silk protein research at Keio's Tsuruoka lab in 2004 and set up Spiber to produce it by microbial fermentation. |
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead / key investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-23 | Funding | ¥6.5B 総額65億円 | PR TIMES | |
| 2021-09-08 | Funding | ¥34.4B 344億円 | PR TIMES | |
| 2024-04-12 | Growth financing | > ¥10B グローバルな量産・販売拡大に向け新たに100億円超調達 | Spiber | |
| 2025-12-23 | Business support agreement | Undisclosed 事業支援に関する契約締結のお知らせ | Maya Kawana (reported) | Spiber |
Key hires & board
| 2026-04-01 | RestructuringNew Spiber launched with new management; founder moves to chief researcher role· Spiber |
|---|
Milestones
| 2025-04-30 | PartnershipBrewed Protein T-shirts by Wakayama Knitter and partners sold at Expo 2025· PR TIMES |
|---|---|
| 2025-07-02 | PartnershipSpiber announces partnerships with Italian mills Manifattura Sesia and Achille Pinto· PR TIMES |
| 2025-11-07 | ProductSpiber launches first official product, Spiber Tee 001· PR TIMES |
| 2025-12-23 | RestructuringBusiness-support contract signed· Spiber |
| 2026-04-01 | RestructuringBusiness transferred to the new Spiber· Spiber |
| 2026-06-17 | ProductSpiber shows 100% Brewed Protein material at Italian trade fair· PR TIMES |
| 2026-10 | ProductLaunches contract protein-manufacturing service SPIBER BIOFOUNDRY· Spiber |
| 2026-10-02 | CorporateSpiber opens its fermentation production to outside contract work· PR TIMES |
| 2026-10-06 | CustomerStella McCartney Winter 2026 knitwear uses Brewed Protein fibre· Spiber |
News
| 2026-10-14 | Brewed Protein fibre used in S|STYLE 2026 work with Kering Material Innovation Lab Brewed Protein(TM)繊維、Kering Material Innovation Labとの協業による「S|STYLE 2026 - Wardrobe Edition」の出展作品に採用· PR TIMES |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-06 | Stella McCartney releases three Brewed Protein knitwear pieces Stella McCartney 2026年ウィンターコレクションより、Brewed Protein™ファイバーを採用したニットウェア3型が発売開始· Spiber |
| 2026-10-02 | Spiber opens its fermentation production to outside contract work Spiber、自社素材の量産で培った発酵生産技術を受託事業として社外に開放· PR TIMES |
| 2026-10 | Spiber opens its protein-production tech as contract service SPIBER BIOFOUNDRY 自社素材で培った「タンパク質を量産する技術」を社外に開放。受託事業「SPIBER BIOFOUNDRY」を開始· Spiber |
| 2026-06-17 | Spiber shows 100% Brewed Protein material at Italian trade fair Spiber、Brewed Protein(TM) 100%素材をイタリアの国際的な見本市で発表· PR TIMES |
| 2026-04-01 | New Spiber launched under new management 新生「Spiber」発足および新体制に関するお知らせ· Spiber |
| 2026-04-01 | New Spiber launched under new management 新生「Spiber」発足および新体制に関するお知らせ· PR TIMES |
| 2026-03-11 | Stella McCartney shows Winter 2026 collection using Brewed Protein fibre in Paris Stella McCartneyからBrewed Protein(TM)ファイバーを使用したWinter 2026コレクションがパリ・ファッションウィークで披露されました· PR TIMES |
| 2025-12-24 | A lifeline for loss-making Spiber: Maya Kawana to support the business 巨額赤字のスパイバーに一筋の蜘蛛の糸 孫正義氏の長女・川名麻耶氏が事業支援へ· SEVENTIE TWO |
| 2025-12-23 | Business support agreement signed 事業支援に関する契約締結のお知らせ· Spiber |
| 2025-11-07 | Spiber launches first official product, Spiber Tee 001 Spiber、初のオフィシャル製品「Spiber Tee 001」を発売· PR TIMES |
| 2025-10-16 | Spiber starts work with JNBY Group Spiber、JNBYグループとの取り組み開始· PR TIMES |
| 2025-10-02 | Spiber pop-up store at Hankyu Men's Osaka 阪急メンズ大阪「GARAGE D.EDIT」にて、Spiber POP-UP STOREを開催· PR TIMES |
| 2025-07-09 | Spiber and Iris van Herpen collaborate at Paris Haute Couture Week AW2025 Spiberとイリス・ヴァン・ヘルペンが2025年秋冬パリ・オートクチュール・ファッションウィークで初コラボレーション· PR TIMES |
| 2025-07-02 | Spiber announces partnerships with Italian mills Manifattura Sesia and Achille Pinto Spiber、イタリアの高級繊維メーカー2社 Manifattura Sesia社およびAchille Pinto社との新たなパートナーシップを発表· PR TIMES |
| 2025-04-30 | Brewed Protein T-shirts by Wakayama Knitter and partners sold at Expo 2025 和歌山ニッターら5社が製作したBrewed Protein(TM) ファイバー使用Tシャツ、スウェットが大阪・関西万博の企画ブースにて期間限定販売· PR TIMES |
| 2025-02-04 | Spiber exhibits at Milano Unica for the first time Spiber、ミラノ・ウニカに初出展· PR TIMES |
| 2025-01-28 | Spiber signs strategic partnership with Italian spinner Botto Giuseppe Spiber、イタリア高級紡績大手ボット・ジュゼッペとの戦略的パートナーシップを締結· PR TIMES |
| 2025-01-22 | Stella McCartney among new partners in Spiber-led Biocircular Materials Alliance Spiberが主導するバイオサーキュラー・マテリアルズ・アライアンスにステラ・マッカートニーを含む新たなパートナーが参画· PR TIMES |
| 2024-04-12 | Spiber raises over ¥10B to scale global production グローバルな量産・販売拡大に向け新たに100億円超調達· PR TIMES |
Funding rounds in 2026
Grey amounts aren't counted in totals. † includes debt or other non-equity.
| Date | Company | Stage | Amount | Investors | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2026 | | Restructuring | — | Maya Kawana | MaterialsDeep tech |