{"id":57476,"date":"2020-02-26T12:23:28","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T11:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/?p=57476"},"modified":"2020-11-19T16:50:03","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T15:50:03","slug":"amsilk-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/en\/57476\/amsilk-success\/","title":{"rendered":"AMSilk: Biotech spider silk as a game changer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Munich-based biotech company AMSilk was founded in 2008 as a spin-off of the Technical University of Munich (TU Munich). Since its founding a good twelve years ago, the startup has grown into a company with more than 30 employees and numerous customers around the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognized as one of the world's 50 most innovative companies in 2017, AMSilk is the first and only company capable of producing biotechnologically produced spider silk on a large scale. The AM in AMSilk's name stands for "Advanced Materials," and "Silk" refers to the biotechnologically produced spider silk. These silk biopolymers serve a wide variety of applications, including the aerospace industry and medical, lifestyle, and cosmetics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMSilk: When bacteria become silk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But where did the innovative idea that led to the startup's founding come from? The company explains: Unlike traditional silk, which is produced in large quantities by silkworms, spiders only produce small amounts of their robust threads. Before AMSilk was founded, neither science nor the chemical industry had succeeded in producing spider silk on the scale necessary for industrial production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To solve this problem, the inventor of the technology, Thomas Scheibel\u2014then a professor at the Technical University of Munich\u2014took a different, highly innovative approach: His patented process is based on the use of genetically modified E. coli bacteria. The bacteria were essentially reprogrammed to produce spider silk proteins. In a special process\u2014which CEO Jens Klein says has been years in the making to perfect\u2014these protein molecules are now used, among other things, to coat medical devices or to be spun into special fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology as a game changer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We wanted to know from Managing Director Jens Klein how the company has developed \u2014 from the unusual idea that emerged from research to the successful company that AMSilk is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our interview partner, AMSilk CEO Jens Klein<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup<\/em><\/strong>: Mr. Klein, how complicated was it to establish your revolutionary idea on the market?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jens Klein, AMSilk<\/em>: Producing a highly sought-after, yet completely new material in large quantities at acceptable prices and establishing it on the market is anything but trivial. We had to develop and optimize many steps to be able to serve large and diverse markets. Our interdisciplinary team has done a great job here and has now established a true innovation on the market. But this is just the beginning. We are developing many other interesting products\u2014particularly in the fiber area\u2014that will soon be available in stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPotential to make established products obsolete\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup<\/em><\/strong>: In 2017, AMSilk was named one of the world's most innovative companies by Technology Review. How does it feel to receive such an award?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jens Klein<\/em>: That we as one of the 50 most innovative companies worldwide <\/a>demonstrates the enormous potential of silk technology. A completely new product like our biotechnologically produced silk is not just an innovative idea, but has the potential to make established products obsolete and replace them \u2013 and, in the long term, transform entire industries. Our product is a true game changer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup<\/em><\/strong>: When the company was founded in 2008, there was less startup support than there is today. What were the biggest challenges for AMSilk in this context?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jens Klein<\/em>: Startup support was already available in 2008, and we made extensive use of it. The conditions are certainly better today, but it's essentially about bringing in the missing expertise from outside. This works through startup programs or relevant industry experts. Of course, sufficient financing with a focus on entrepreneurial activity is always essential. Here, we were fortunate to have the right investors on board from the very beginning. (Editor's note: The idea was convincing in addition to the Munich MIG Fund <\/a>also the investor AT Newtec, behind which stand the Hexal founders Andreas and Thomas Str\u00fcngmann.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n