The H&M Foundation has unveiled the 20 finalists for its 2026 Global Change Award (GCA), spotlighting early-stage startups working across materials science, recycling, manufacturing efficiency and circular business models.
These startups target supply chain problems such as dye alternatives, textile recycling, energy use, and product lifespan. Spanning 16 countries, this year’s cohort showcases a growing range of technologies. These include AI-powered design tools, microbial dye systems, enzymatic textile recycling and marine-based material alternatives. In addition, several finalists highlight ways to extend garment lifespans, such as repair networks, digital product passports and resale infrastructure.
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This year, the largest share of finalists falls within materials science and chemical innovation. In the “sustainable materials and processes” category alone, a baker’s dozen of startups lead efforts to replace fossil-based inputs, improve textile recycling, and reduce the environmental footprint of dyes and fibers, described by the foundation as ongoing priorities.
Aiper produces bio-pigments through microbial fermentation using non-genetically modified microorganisms. Founded in Brazil by Ailton Pereira, the process converts agro-industrial waste into textile colorants designed to reduce reliance on petrochemical dyes. AgroLyocell, developed by Canvaloop and founders Shreyans Kokra and Dhruv Gupta in India, converts agricultural waste into regenerated cellulose fiber. The technology aims to provide an alternative to wood-based viscose by using crop residues as feedstock for cellulose production.
ArtSilk is developing artificial spider silk fibers produced using engineered proteins and a water-based spinning process. Founded in Sweden by Anna Rising and Benjamin Schmuck, the technology aims to replicate the strength and durability of natural spider silk for textile applications. Dawn Technologies is focused on separating cotton-polyester textile waste into recoverable components. Developed in the Netherlands by Peter Mangnus, the system isolates clean polyester while converting cotton into bio-based chemical building blocks for the production of new materials. EnzymeThreads is engineering high-performance enzymes designed to break down PET into its original monomers. Founded in Italy by Alfonso Gautieri, Rossella Castagna and Emilio Parisini, the system focuses on enzymatic depolymerisation as a pathway to recycle polyester into virgin-equivalent inputs.
French firm Fiberly is developing regenerated cellulose fibers designed to replicate the structure and performance of cotton. Founded by Bénédicté Quinta in France, the technology uses fiber shaping and surface texturing within a lyocell-based process to mimic cotton’s characteristics while relying on regenerated cellulose feedstocks.
Living Carbon Capture Dye Systems has created a dyeing process that uses cyanobacteria to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and convert it into textile dyes. Founded by Henry Kavuma in Uganda, the biological system combines carbon capture with pigment generation. MicroHues produces microbial dyes through fermentation processes designed as alternatives to petrochemical-based colorants. Founded in India by Suchitha Raghunathan and Anjana Badrinarayanan, the company is developing microbial fermentation-based methods for pigment production.
Colour Earth has developed the Regen Ink system, which combines soil remediation with pigment production. Founded by Aurelie Fontan, Meredith Wood and Christopher Ferguson in the United Kingdom, the approach extracts natural pigments from plants grown on polluted land while contributing to soil restoration.
Rhea’s Factory is developing an AI-designed enzymatic recycling platform known as RheaCycle. Founded in the United States by Arzu Sandikci and Mert Topcu, the system uses artificial intelligence to design enzymes capable of breaking down polyester and blended textiles into high-purity monomers. Tera Mira is producing a seaweed-derived alternative to elastane using a solvent-free wet-spinning process. Founded in the United Kingdom by Jeanne Begon-Lours and Lucy Dain-Williams, the material relies on marine biopolymers as its base feedstock.
DiamondCool is developing a nanodiamond-enhanced textile that’s designed to “dissipate body heat passively.” Founded by Shadi Houshyar in Australia, the technology embeds carbon-based nanodiamonds into textile structures—ideally, improving thermal regulation without chemical cooling treatments. KelTex is producing a biodegradable bio-leather made from seaweed. Founded by Laetus Buberwa and Emeliana Said in Tanzania, the material is supported by AI-enabled sensor systems that optimize seaweed-farming conditions.
Several of this year’s finalists focus on improving how garments are made, targeting inefficiencies upstream in design, manufacturing and quality control.
Curbon has developed an AI-powered decision tool that integrates ecological impact assessments directly into the product design phase. The platform models trade-offs across carbon, water and cost to help product teams understand the implications of material and design decisions earlier in development. Last month, the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) awarded the Princeton-based company $74,480 as part of the commission’s $1.3 million grant’s fourth funding round.
“Funding New Jersey startups through grant programs like the Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant helps build a stronger economy for the future,” said Judith Sheft, CSIT’s executive director. “Cultivating companies within our state during their formative years helps them establish roots in New Jersey and position them for future financial growth, sustainability and economic mobility for years to come.”
Curbon, founded by Jinjin Chen, Joe Wahba and Alan Zhang in 2024, includes three team members who will graduate from Princeton this year.
Addressing the “just transition” is EntroMetrix. The UK-based company is developing an AI-enabled optimization platform to reduce energy inefficiencies in factories. Founded by Mohammed Ali, Iusiph Eiubovi and Steve Evans in June 2025, the system combines digital twin technology with physics-based artificial intelligence to simulate factory operations and identify opportunities for energy savings and operational improvements.
The Bangladesh-based ThreadBridge, an AI-assisted quality control system using wearable smart glasses to detect fabric defects before cutting—targeting pre-consumer fabric yield loss—was founded in 2023 by Md Ridwan Hossain.
The “mindful consumption” category comprises finalists focused on extending product lifespans, hoping to change how consumers interact with clothing after purchase.
ALU has created a consumer platform that supports garment longevity through digital product passports. Founded by Donatela Bellone in the United States, the platform uses gamification features to encourage repair, resale and other circular behaviors while providing digital records tied to individual garments. Menders Without Borders is developing a distributed network of skilled repair artisans with brands and consumers. Founded in India by Bhaavya Goenka, Filippo Ricci and Orsola De Castro, the initiative aims to formalize garment mending as a recognized service within the apparel ecosystem while creating economic opportunities for repair specialists.
The last category, called “wildcards,” is for ideas that do not fit into the other groups but still aim to change the fashion industry. According to H&M Foundation, wildcards are ‘unexpected, game-changing ideas that could accelerate industry-wide transformation.’
Arxy has developed a digital go-to-market operating system that connects brands and retailers through virtual showrooms. Founded in Luxembourg by Meng Ji, the platform uses artificial intelligence to match brands with retail partners and streamline wholesale discovery. MycoRenew is developing a fungi-based bioremediation system designed to convert contaminated textile waste into construction materials. Founded by Tomasz Mierzwa and Katarzyna Turnau in Poland, the technology uses fungal processes to transform difficult textile waste streams into products such as eco-bricks.
Out of 450 submissions from 81 countries across six continents, the GCA’s ‘expert panel’ will now screen and score the top 20 ideas. In June, the announcement will reveal the 10 finalists.
“I’m excited to help identify early ideas that can become real-world solutions for people and planet—including meaningful emissions reduction,” said panelist Lewis Shuler, vice president of advanced concepts at Alpine Group.
The GCA 2026 winners will also join the GCA Changemaker Program, receiving a 200,000-euro grant—equivalent to $231,647—mentorship alongside access “to a global network designed to accelerate their ideas from concept to impact,” provided by the H&M Foundation in collaboration with its strategic partners, Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
The H&M Foundation launched the “Nobel Prize of Fashion” program in 2015 to transform the fashion industry and make it planet-positive, helping it fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
For the 2.22 percent of successful applicants, the 2028 cohort will work to understand what it takes to move from concept to concrete.
Last year’s final week in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, offered the 2025 cohort some answers. Chloe So, co-founder of PulpaTronics, said the moment marked her group’s graduation into the GCA alum network, too.
“This moment gave me extra motivation; we’ve absorbed all the training and mentorship from the program and, with the tools, frameworks and networks we gained, I feel more equipped and confident,” she wrote in a H&M Foundation blog post. “I realized it isn’t only about solving a problem. It’s about positioning your solution within a complex system that already exists.”
Previous GCA winners include Rubi, a viscose made of carbon emissions captured from the air; Biorestore, a laundry solution; and Galy, lab-grown cotton.
