Mykilio the most successful Czech project in the international PropTech Innovation Challenge 2024
Prague, July 9, 2024 ‑ Mykilio, a technology hub developing new materials based on mycelium from the Progresus Group, took a top 5 place in the international ULI CEE PropTech Innovation Challenge 2024, making it the most successful Czech project. It received the award on 8 July at the ceremony of the best projects from the Czech Republic at the Four Seasons Hotel.
The PropTech Innovation Challenge 2024, organised by the Urban Land Institute, aimed to discover the best innovative solutions to reduce emissions in Scope 3, i.e. those related to materials and transport for developers. From dozens of entries from Poland and the Czech Republic, a jury of more than ten experts selected only the five best projects, whose representatives defended them in Warsaw. The Czech startup Mykilio, which presented its solution for the disposal of waste plasterboard and its transformation into structural boards or acoustic panels, took a top 5 place and thus became the most successful Czech project in the competition.
"Plasterboard is a problematic material in terms of disposal. Only gypsum is recyclable, but contaminated cardboard could only be landfilled until now. We had the idea to use it as a substrate for the glossy cork fungus. This helps us to turn this waste into a reusable material, which is then fed back into the construction process, for example in the form of a structural panel," says Matěj Róth, CEO of Mykilio. The structural panels can then be reused as non-load-bearing partitions in interiors. The company also uses the material to make designer acoustic panels, which it supplies to soundproof recording studios or conference rooms.
"The Mykilio project was truly exceptional and as the most innovative company it deservedly took a top 5 place in a competition of dozens of other projects," says Radek Kučera, Founding Partner of ULI Czech Republic, who presented the award at the event. "This is a completely new approach to waste material processing. We are glad that through such events we spread awareness of the fascinating properties of the subsoil and the possibilities of its use in construction," comments Lukáš Foral, co-owner of the Progresus Group, which supported the promising technology start-up two years ago and included it in its portfolio. "Every competition like this takes us further. Not only thanks to the opinions of the diverse range of experts on the jury, but also thanks to contacts from new potential investors, we are able to move this completely innovative business forward," adds Matěj Róth on behalf of Mykilio. Current clients that Mykilio is already helping with waste processing include British American Tobacco and Skanska.
Photos from the announcement and Mykilio's production can be found here: https://bit.ly/4curJC8