Sci-Lume

Sci-Lume Labs is a materials science company developing Bylon, a biobased and biodegradable apparel fiber intended to replace petroleum-derived synthetics like nylon and polyester as well as conventional cotton. Bylon is made from agricultural-waste feedstocks and is engineered to be compatible with existing textile manufacturing equipment — it can be spun into yarns and knitted or woven into fabric on the same machinery mills already use for nylon, Lycra, and polyester — so adopters do not need new capital equipment. The company describes the fiber as combining the moisture-wicking comfort of cotton with the strength and light weight of synthetic fibers, while remaining recyclable and biodegradable at end of life. Founded in 2021 and led by founder/CEO Oliver Shafaat, Sci-Lume Labs has been supported by biotech-focused accelerators including IndieBio and SOSV, and won a $30,000 grant from the CFDA x Swarovski Foundation Re:Generation Innovation Fund in 2025.