Innovation Insight: How Tandem Repeat is Redefining Textiles
- Jane Redfern
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Winner of the 2026 pitchday is Tandem Repeat, a DeepTech start-up based in Philadelphia, United States. We spoke to co-founder Professor Melik Demirel and CTO Dr. Benjamin Allen about their mission to harness technology for positive social impact and expand the market for sustainable fibers.
What is the impact that Tandem Repeat is hoping to achieve?
We aim to create both an economic and an environmental impact.
On the economic side we will make a cheaper wool, and on the sustainable side, we hope to minimise the use of the synthetic fibres that are polluting our world.
Tandem Repeat fibres are made from fermentation waste. This frees up the use of arable land, fossil fuel resources and fresh water - currently required to make fibres such as polyester, cotton and wool – enabling them to be used for applications that really, really matter such as food and medicine.
Plant molecular farming offers an alternative to traditional animal-sourced materials, allowing for more cost-effective production with fewer environmental impacts - Co-founder Melik Demirel
By providing an affordable natural fibre we aim to democratise the textiles market. Making it easier for the average person to be able to purchase something off-the-rack, that’s also good for the environment and lasts a long time.
What experience does the team have?
Our team at Tandem Repeat Technologies has experience in this field that spans, we like to say, from the lab all the way to the loom. Many of us are PhD scientists and we’re a spin out from Penn State University. Our experience includes protein structure, fermentation, all the way through to large-scale textile production.
Why are you seeking investment?
To help us scale from the 500kg of yarn that we've managed to produce up to this point, to the hundreds of tonnes that are necessary to make good partnerships with brands and textile mills.
I’m thrilled that our team at Tandem Repeat has won the prestigious Future of Capitalism Award for our groundbreaking biomanufacturing work in Procell Fibers. This recognition fuels our mission to harness technology for positive social impact and pushes us to innovate and expand our market for sustainable fibers further. Co-founder Melik Demirel
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