Media

January 30, 2024

Checkerspot Announces Breakthrough with the Development of Human Milk Fat Analogue by Fermentation of Microalgae

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videos | September 25, 2024

Duotone x SWS Board Technology x Checkerspot Partnership

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press-releases | September 24, 2024

Duotone Unveils Entire Kiteboard Series Replacing Petroleum-Based Materials with Checkerspot’s Algae-Based Polyurethane Sidewalls, powered by SWS Technology

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article | August 2, 2024

Checkerspot and Cambium combine to create high-performance foams

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press-releases | July 31, 2024

Cambium and Checkerspot Form Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize PFAS-Free, High-Temperature and Fire-Resistant Foam Products for Dual-Use Defense and Commercial Applications

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article | June 17, 2024

These 6 Exceptional Bay Area Restaurants Swear By Algae Oil, Here’s Why

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press-releases | April 22, 2024

Checkerspot Announces Patent for Non-Genetically Engineered High-Oleic Microalgae Oil

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article | April 16, 2024

“Wasteful beyond control”: A Michelin-starred chef on fine dining’s sustainability crisis

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press-releases | April 11, 2024

Mara Renewables Partners with Checkerspot to Develop Sustainable Microalgae-Based Omega-3 Alternatives to Fish Oil

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article | April 1, 2024

INFORM: New Fats from Microalgae

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article | March 28, 2024

Sugar to oil: Checkerspot unlocks microalgae fermentation for sustainable fat alternatives

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article | March 25, 2024

‘A significant breakthrough’: Researchers develop human milk fat analog from microalgae

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article | March 25, 2024

Checkerspot and AAK to Produce Novel, Climate Change-Resistent Oils from Microalgae & Precision Fermentation

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press-releases | March 22, 2024

AAK Partners with Checkerspot to Develop New Sustainable Algae Oil

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press-releases | January 30, 2024

Checkerspot Announces Breakthrough with the Development of Human Milk Fat Analogue by Fermentation of Microalgae

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press-releases | January 2, 2024

DIC Develops DAILUBE™ KS-519, the World’s First Algae Oil–Based High-Performance Sulfurized EP Additive

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press-releases | September 19, 2023

HO Sports Unveils Sabre Water Ski

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videos | September 19, 2023

Checkerspot x HO Sports: The Sabre Water Ski, Designed with Biology

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resources | September 19, 2023

Sabre Water Ski Press Kit

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resources | August 17, 2023

Hankook Tire Re: Move Project Press Kit

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resources | August 10, 2023

Phase Series Press Kit

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resources | August 10, 2023

Pollinator Kit Press Kit

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press-releases | July 10, 2023

WNDR® Alpine Launches Four New Hardgoods Models

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article | June 12, 2023

This moisture-wicking activewear uses an unexpected secret ingredient

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press-releases | May 30, 2023

WNDR Alpine Launches into Activewear with Phase Series Featuring 100% Petroleum-Free Wicking Finish

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resources | May 10, 2023

Checkerspot: Bio-Manufacturing a Post-Petroleum Future

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podcasts | May 10, 2023

Democratizing Renewable Materials – with Charles Dimmler from Checkerspot

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podcasts | May 10, 2023

The Butterfly Effect: Sustainable High-Performance Materials from Micro-Algae

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article | April 20, 2023

Meet 10 Amazing Women Telling The Stories Of Synthetic Biology

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press-releases | March 15, 2023

Checkerspot’s Pollinator™ Kit for Renewable Design wins SXSW Innovation Award in the Design Category

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article | March 15, 2023

2023 SXSW Innovation Awards Winners Announced

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article | February 24, 2023

5 Bay Area organizations selected as finalists for SXSW’s 2023 innovation awards

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article | February 22, 2023

SXSW 2023 Innovation Awards Finalists Announced

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press-releases | February 14, 2023

Checkerspot Closes $55 Million Series C to Bring the Bioeconomy to Your Doorstep

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article | February 6, 2023

The Bioeconomy 500 for 2023 – outstanding leaders of the bioeconomy’s development and deployment

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article | December 13, 2022

Checkerspot releases algae-based plastic prototype kit for designers

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podcasts | November 17, 2022

Consensus in Conversation: Checkerspot – Alpine Skiing, Algae and Biotech Innovation.

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article | November 10, 2022

How and Why Checkerspot is Making Biomaterials Available and Accessible

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podcasts | November 7, 2022

It’s a Material World: Demystifying Design with Bio-Based Materials (Ft. Dr. Adrienne McKee) November 7th, 2022

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article | November 2, 2022

New Algae Resin Casting Kit From Checkerspot Points to a Bio-Based Future. Sowing the seeds of knowledge direct to customers.

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podcasts | October 20, 2022

Danny in the Valley: Checkerspot’s Charles Dimmler: “Using algae to make skis”

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press-releases | July 18, 2022

WNDR Alpine Unveils the All-New Intention 108 Backcountry Ski with SpiralMade™ Material Developed from Reclaimed Manufacturing Waste and Designed for Performance

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press-releases | July 11, 2022

Stand Forward, Stand Sideways, Stand for Something: WNDR® Alpine Launches First Snowboards, the BelleTour and the BelleAire

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press-releases | June 7, 2022

Will & Co. Announces Strategic Collaboration to Bring Checkerspot’s Novel Biobased Materials and Algal Polyurethane Systems to European Product Innovators

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podcasts | May 16, 2022

Intuity Performance: Elevate Business Podcast: Humble “Experts” with Charles Dimmler

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article | May 4, 2022

Fast Company: World Changing Ideas: 33 projects that prove small businesses can change the world.

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videos | April 25, 2022

Pique Action Episode 22 – Checkerspot: Designing with Biology

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videos | April 22, 2022

Bio market Insights TV: Performance vs. sustainability is a false choice

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press-releases | April 11, 2022

Checkerspot and DIC Corporation Announce Joint Development Agreement to Bring the Power of Microalgae to Skin Care using the WING™ Platform

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videos | April 7, 2022

WING™ Platform – Where Products Take Flight

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resources | March 17, 2022

Molecular Foundry: Downstream Processing

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resources | March 11, 2022

Molecular Foundry: Fermentation Process

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article | March 8, 2022

Algae… Nature’s Cost-Effective, Sustainable Biofactories

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resources | March 3, 2022

Molecular Foundry: Molecular Biology Process

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videos | February 23, 2022

Checkerspot uses Geneious Prime to Create Biobased Materials from Sustainable Inputs

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podcasts | February 14, 2022

Encinal High School x Checkerspot: Biotechnology’s Role in Combatting Climate Change

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videos | February 12, 2022

What do a beauty CEO, a cell biologist and a chemical engineer have in common? ⁠

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videos | February 12, 2022

We are inspired by the creativity of the innovators we work with.

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press-releases | January 25, 2022

DPS Skis Teams up with Checkerspot to Develop Custom Biomanufactured Materials for their Pagoda Series

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article | January 19, 2022

The Synthetic Biology Climate Change Opportunity

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article | December 21, 2021

The Best Ski Gear Shaped by the Backcountry Craze. So Long, Stiff Boots

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videos | December 3, 2021

Checkerspot WING™ Platform – Where Biomanufactured Performance Products Take Flight

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press-releases | November 17, 2021

Algenist And Checkerspot Announce Strategic Partnership Focused On Microalgae Innovation

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article | November 9, 2021

How Checkerspot Is Biomanufacturing Better Materials For A Post-Petroleum Future

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article | September 21, 2021

10 Future-Thinking Startups Fighting Climate Change

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podcasts | September 2, 2021

26: Green Textile Chemicals in a Petroleum-Based Industry

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article | September 2, 2021

How the Brand Behind the Algae Skis is Changing Ski Manufacturing for the Better

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podcasts | September 2, 2021

18: The Common Thread Between Spider Silk and Google Smart Contacts

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resources | June 30, 2021

miDori 100% Biocarbon Algae Biowick Finish

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article | June 9, 2021

Reimagining Materials: Proving Biobased Performance In The Outdoor Industry—And Beyond

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resources | May 17, 2021

Biomanufacturing Infographic

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videos | May 1, 2021

Resilient Value Chains – A Move Towards Local and Sustainable

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videos | April 22, 2021

Checkerspot x Autodesk: A Better Future for Snow Sports

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resources | April 17, 2021

UNDERSTANDING “BIO” MATERIAL INNOVATIONS

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article | April 13, 2021

Interview with Checkerspot Co-Founder and CEO (FREE)

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press-releases | February 16, 2021

WNDR Alpine Receives B Corp Certification

The award winning brand is demonstrating the future of performance materials and the possibilities unlocked by Checkerspot, Inc’s vertically integrated innovation platform enabled by biotechnology

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article | January 5, 2021

These high-performance skis are made out of algae

After biotech startup Checkerspot created plastic derived from microalgae, outdoor recreation products seemed like a perfect test for new compounds that replicate the properties of petroleum-based plastics.

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article | January 5, 2021

Skiing And Snowboarding Go Green – Uphill Or Downhill, New Eco-Friendly Gear

The winter sports industries have been marshalling a lot of green resources in recent years to become more eco-friendly and environmentally conscious, and with ski resorts expected to be at full capacity and record backcountry skiing and snowboard...

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podcasts | December 29, 2020

It’s a Material World

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article | December 16, 2020

The Climate Torch: CEO Interview with Charles Dimmler of Checkerspot

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videos | October 29, 2020

Inspired by Nature

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videos | October 22, 2020

From Molecule to Material in a Minute

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videos | October 14, 2020

WNDR Alpine – VITALITY

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podcasts | October 5, 2020

Leaders on a Mission – Simon Leich

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article | September 30, 2020

How WNDR Alpine Created Skis From Algae

This Innovation by Design honoree is engineering new high-performance materials that could help wean a variety of industries off petroleum-based compounds.

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article | September 30, 2020

The Most Innovative Sports and Recreation Projects of 2020

A ski made of an algae-based composite that dramatically reduces the amount of petrochemicals used to manufacture it.

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article | September 30, 2020

Style & Design 2020: The Most Lust-Worthy New Cars, Gadgets, and Gear

WNDR Alpine breaks the mold, recasting two totally new (and renewable) core and side- wall materials that are intentionally designed for backcountry skiing rigors first, down to the chemical level.

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press-releases | August 19, 2020

Checkerspot Closes $36 Million Series B Round

Expanding its Innovation Platform to Create Performance Biomaterials Across Industries.

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article | July 22, 2020

Checkerspot unveils skis made from new algae-based bioplastics

US materials innovation company Checkerspot has launched skis called Vital 100, which are made from its newest material – Algal Cast. The company unveiled its algae-based bioplastic product via its outdoor consumer brand WNDR Alpine.

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article | July 15, 2020

GM of Wintersports Matt Sterbenz sees the brand as a vehicle for an innovative, algae-based materials play in the outdoor space.

Sterbenz helped launch WNDR Alpine after nearly 20 years running 4FRNT Skis, a first mover in the independent ski movement. He founded 4FRNT in the Lake Tahoe area in 2002 and later moved the company to Utah.

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videos | July 9, 2020

AlgalTech

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article | July 8, 2020

WNDR Plant-Based Skis Are Eliminating Waste From Production

Pep Fujas, pro skier and vice president of marketing and product development for WNDR Alpine held a yellow disc in his hand as he sat in their Salt Lake City offices. “The skis are great, but this is the kind of stuff that gets me really excited,”...

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press-releases | July 8, 2020

WNDR Alpine launches the Vital 100 backcountry ski

Introducing Algal Cast, Checkerspot’s next biomanufactured performance material.

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article | June 28, 2020

Some Wonderful Outdoor Products Have a Weird Ingredient

“Performance needs to come before impact,” says Matthias Foessel, CEO of Beyond Surface Technologies. “A lot of companies get this wrong. If our fabrics don’t perform we won’t stay alive as a business, let alone succeed in reducing the industry’s ...

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article | May 8, 2020

DIC Uses Corporate Venture Capital to Leverage Biotech Startup Checkerspot Inc.’s Sustainable Microalgae Materials Innovation Platform

The DIC-Checkerspot partnership is focused on commercializing new and improved products and relevant manufacturing processes areas, including adhesives, coatings, printing inks, and lubricants.

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article | April 20, 2020

Advanced Materials: Interview with Charles Dimmler, CEO and Co-Founder, Checkerspot

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article | March 25, 2020

The Power of Algae

Algae are being tapped as a new resource to make fibres, finishes and dyes for the textile industry. Algae bloom can provide cellulose or proteins, and in microalgae form, the species can produce non-petrochemical oils.

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article | February 11, 2020

This Company Thinks Algae Will Make Better Skis

Matt Sterbenz believes his company, WNDR Alpine, may have just made the best ski ever. It happens to be built with algae.

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article | January 24, 2020

THE WILD WORLD OF MICROBE-MADE PRODUCTS – SKIS NOW INCLUDED

This winter, you can carve the fresh powder of the backcountry on a pair of high-performance, eco-friendly skis designed by world-famous athletes and made from a material produced by microscopic algae. Yes, algae. The skis, made by a rather unco...

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article | January 7, 2020

Nature Unlocked: How Matt Sterbenz is using biobased materials to change the game in skiing

What if sustainably derived materials can not only compete with traditional, petroleum-based materials, but actually beat them out? That was the first question Checkerspot founders asked themselves. Once the Berkeley, California-based biotech star...

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article | December 20, 2019

IS DIRECT TO CONSUMER MARKETING THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF SYNBIO?

We spoke with Scott Franklin, Co-Founder and CSO at Checkerspot. Checkerspot is a synthetic biology company biomanufacturing high quality renewable materials for consumer goods. Scott’s deep technical expertise coupled with his diverse experiences...

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article | November 20, 2019

Gore-Tex Bets On Synthetic Biology

L. Gore & Associates (Gore) today announced a collaboration with Checkerspot, bringing together Checkerspot's expertise in bio-based polymers and biotechnology with Gore's decades of experience in high performance apparel. Together, they will expl...

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article | November 19, 2019

Gore Innovation Center and Checkerspot Collaborate on High Performance Textiles

Silicon Valley-based Gore Innovation Center announces collaboration with materials startup Checkerspot

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article | September 25, 2019

Watch How These Synthetic Biology Companies Will Disrupt the Automotive Industry

From car seats made of algae and leather made of fungi, synthetic biology looks to shake up the automobile industry.

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article | September 23, 2019

The NEXT 50 Companies to Disrupt the World

In Florida, The Digest recognized the NEXT 50, “the 50 Next Companies to Disrupt the World”, bioeconomy companies that are on the journey to commercial scale with an emerging technology.

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article | August 13, 2019

ALGAE IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF MATERIALS

Checkerspot, a start-up materials company, is using biotechnology to harness the power of nature, fermenting algae to produce novel bio-based oils for use in materials in the outdoor recreational sector and an expanding number of other applications.

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article | August 5, 2019

THE GREEN SKI REVOLUTION: MATT STERBENZ LAUNCHES THE WNDR ALPINE SKI BRAND

My eyes light up, as do his, highlighting his new vision of ski production. For the past year, Sterbenz has been the General Manager for Wintersports of Checkerspot—a biotech company based out of Berkeley, California. The task at hand: re-imagine ...

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article | June 13, 2019

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Could a Bay Area biotechnology company reinvent what’s in our ski gear “The outdoor industry is ripe for technological advancements at this level,” Sterbenz continues. “This opportunity is something that could be widely disruptive. And necessary,...

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article | May 14, 2019

PERFORMANCE IS THE KEY AS CHECKERSPOT PREPARES TO LAUNCH A PRODUCT FOR THE WINTER SPORTS MARKET

“It’s all about the performance of the material. It’s one thing to put a material in, but you have to validate it using hard data then build the commercial story around that… Quite simply, you must be the better product.” - Charles Dimmler, CEO, C...

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article | April 29, 2019

THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS APPLY: THE RISE OF CHECKERSPOT AND SUPERMATERIALS

“Checkerspot is differentiated in its approach by focusing on more rapidly bringing to market high value materials with unique properties presently unavailable with traditional manufacturing processes. At Builders we partner with companies that ar...

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article | April 16, 2019

CHECKERSPOT RAISES $13M SERIES A TO PRODUCE BIOTECH-ENABLED PERFORMANCE MATERIALS

Jim Kim, general partner of Builders VC, who will join Checkerspot’s Board of Directors states... “We’re at a new age of industrial material production,” Kim said. By applying genetic tools in different arenas, he said, we’re able to make materia...

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press-releases | April 16, 2019

CHECKERSPOT CLOSES $13 MILLION SERIES A LED BY BUILDERS VC

“Checkerspot is differentiated in its approach by focusing on more rapidly bringing to market high value materials with unique properties presently unavailable with traditional manufacturing processes. At Builders we partner with companies that ar...

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article | April 16, 2019

A MATERIAL NEW INVESTMENT

We (Breakout Ventures) have just invested in Checkerspot, a company using biological foundries to produce new materials sustainably...

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article | March 26, 2019

BIOTECHNOLOGY MEETS FASHION AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE: TRENDS IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY

“Fluorinated coatings are used in a lot of products – apparel, cookware, yoga pants – but they can often be toxic and lose performance over time as they shed into the environment. We are developing bio-based hydrophobic coatings that do not contai...

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article | March 18, 2019

FASHION FOR GOOD ANNOUNCES NEW GROUP OF INNOVATORS

Checkerspot was awarded a spot in fifth batch of Fashion for Good Plug and Play Accelerator. “The ten entrepreneurs that will compose the fifth accelerator batch, have been carefully selected from hundreds of applicants. While each innovator has a...

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article | November 5, 2018

CHECKERSPOT NAMED IN C&EN 2018 10 START-UPS TO WATCH

“…we are thinking about how we can create materials that perform better and aren’t simply swap-in, swap-out replacements,” Charles Dimmler says.

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article | August 3, 2018

MATT STERBENZ, FOUNDER OF 4FRNT, JOINS CHECKERSPOT

“Looking forward to working with a great team of scientists that are developing new molecules for specific performance materials and applying them in breakthrough product designs. I’ve been in the game for a long time, and I’m done working with th...

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article | July 3, 2018

CHECKERSPOT RAISES $5M TO BRING NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS FROM MICROALGAE

“We see triglycerides as molecular scaffolds. Our technology platform leverages an understanding of biology, chemistry, materials science and fabrication, and through it we believe we can imbue these molecules with properties that dramatically enh...

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article | June 27, 2018

THREE CUSTOMER DISCOVERY TIPS FOR BUILDING AN INNOVATIVE COMPANY

“We want to be much more intentional about the design of materials and product development,” Charles says, “an important part of that is knowing what end-users will want, even if they cannot readily articulate it.”

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article | June 25, 2018

CLOSING THE APPLICATIONS GAP: CHECKERSPOT CLOSES $5M SEED FINANCING IN PURSUIT OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE BIOMATERIALS

“This is the right time,” McClary told The Digest. “The novel tool sets and data sets, all colliding with computation. The tools create the data sets, and the computation allows you to move at the speed that’s right. And these are new business pla...

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press-releases | June 20, 2018

CHECKERSPOT CLOSES $5 MILLION SERIES SEED FUNDING

Checkerspot Inc., a materials innovation company, announced today that it has closed its Series Seed financing for over $5 million.

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article | May 9, 2018

DIC CORPORATION & CHECKERSPOT SIGN JDA

DIC Corporation and Checkerspot, Inc. entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to create a new class of novel, high performance polyols.

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article | April 17, 2018

THE GREEN CHEMISTRY & COMMERCE COUNCIL ANNOUNCES 2018 GREEN & BIO-BASED CHEMISTRY TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE WINNERS

Checkerspot named one of ten showcase winners to present at the GC3 Conference.

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article | March 29, 2018

BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS – 5 MINUTES WITH … CHARLES DIMMLER, CEO OF CHECKERSPOT

“In a decade’s time, bio-based industry will no longer be an industry classification. We’re already seeing signs from leading, large consumer brands that they are not differentiating between bio and other feedstocks.”

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article | February 6, 2018

ADVANCED MATERIALS SCIENCE – A NEW GENOMIC FRONTIER

Illumina Accelerator Graduate, Checkerspot, is Designing High-Value Materials.

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