Growing Materials Without Cutting a Single Tree: Adam Korczak, Treeless (EP#587)
November 5, 2026
Co-produced by
Co-produced by
09:29 – From Tissue Engineering to Growing Materials
13:28 – Why Treeless Moved Beyond Packaging
29:30 – Why Not Raising Early Paid Off
37:59 – Selling Swiss Technology Abroad
This episode is presented in partnership with Swissnex. Swissnex connects Switzerland with some of the world’s leading innovation hubs and helps Swiss startups expand internationally. To learn more about their work, visit https://swissnex.org/services/startups/.
Episode description:
Adam Korczak is the Co-Founder and CEO of Treeless, an ETH Zurich spin-off that uses microorganisms to biomanufacture materials for industries such as cosmetics, adhesives and coatings. Adam studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich and did a PhD in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. He co-founded Treeless with Patrycja Kucharczyk after asking a simple question: if we can already grow meat and leather in the lab, what else could we grow?
In this episode, Adam explains how Treeless began as Treeless Pack, focused on packaging, and grew into a company making ingredients for water-based and polymeric systems. He shares why customers rarely switch for sustainability alone. Treeless wins them over in other ways: decentralized production that reduces supply chain risk, multifunctional materials that simplify formulations, and a mission to create “materials for a better life.” He also talks about the less glamorous side of scaling: going from lab experiments to tons of material, and carrying heavy barrels around a pilot facility.
The conversation then turns to fundraising and going international. Adam explains why he thinks Treeless was lucky not to raise money earlier, and how waiting let the team close an oversubscribed round with investors they chose themselves. After winning the Swiss INTL Award, he looks back on market validation trips to Brazil, South Korea and the Philippines. His conclusion: Switzerland builds top-notch technology but often struggles to sell it, and backing from organizations like Swissnex gives startups the credibility to open doors abroad.
.avif)
