January 30, 2024
Checkerspot Announces Breakthrough with the Development of Human Milk Fat Analogue by Fermentation of Microalgae
READ MOREvideos | September 25, 2024
Duotone x SWS Board Technology x Checkerspot Partnership
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
article | August 2, 2024
Checkerspot and Cambium combine to create high-performance foams
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
article | June 17, 2024
These 6 Exceptional Bay Area Restaurants Swear By Algae Oil, Here’s Why
press-releases | April 22, 2024
Checkerspot Announces Patent for Non-Genetically Engineered High-Oleic Microalgae Oil
article | April 16, 2024
“Wasteful beyond control”: A Michelin-starred chef on fine dining’s sustainability crisis
press-releases | April 11, 2024
Mara Renewables Partners with Checkerspot to Develop Sustainable Microalgae-Based Omega-3 Alternatives to Fish Oil
article | April 1, 2024
INFORM: New Fats from Microalgae
article | March 28, 2024
Sugar to oil: Checkerspot unlocks microalgae fermentation for sustainable fat alternatives
article | March 25, 2024
‘A significant breakthrough’: Researchers develop human milk fat analog from microalgae
article | March 25, 2024
Checkerspot and AAK to Produce Novel, Climate Change-Resistent Oils from Microalgae & Precision Fermentation
press-releases | March 22, 2024
AAK Partners with Checkerspot to Develop New Sustainable Algae Oil
press-releases | January 30, 2024
Checkerspot Announces Breakthrough with the Development of Human Milk Fat Analogue by Fermentation of Microalgae
press-releases | January 2, 2024
DIC Develops DAILUBE™ KS-519, the World’s First Algae Oil–Based High-Performance Sulfurized EP Additive
press-releases | September 19, 2023
HO Sports Unveils Sabre Water Ski
videos | September 19, 2023
Checkerspot x HO Sports: The Sabre Water Ski, Designed with Biology
resources | September 19, 2023
Sabre Water Ski Press Kit
resources | August 17, 2023
Hankook Tire Re: Move Project Press Kit
resources | August 10, 2023
Phase Series Press Kit
resources | August 10, 2023
Pollinator Kit Press Kit
press-releases | July 10, 2023
WNDR® Alpine Launches Four New Hardgoods Models
article | June 12, 2023
This moisture-wicking activewear uses an unexpected secret ingredient
press-releases | May 30, 2023
WNDR Alpine Launches into Activewear with Phase Series Featuring 100% Petroleum-Free Wicking Finish
resources | May 10, 2023
Checkerspot: Bio-Manufacturing a Post-Petroleum Future
podcasts | May 10, 2023
Democratizing Renewable Materials – with Charles Dimmler from Checkerspot
podcasts | May 10, 2023
The Butterfly Effect: Sustainable High-Performance Materials from Micro-Algae
article | April 20, 2023
Meet 10 Amazing Women Telling The Stories Of Synthetic Biology
press-releases | March 15, 2023
Checkerspot’s Pollinator™ Kit for Renewable Design wins SXSW Innovation Award in the Design Category
article | March 15, 2023
2023 SXSW Innovation Awards Winners Announced
article | February 24, 2023
5 Bay Area organizations selected as finalists for SXSW’s 2023 innovation awards
article | February 22, 2023
SXSW 2023 Innovation Awards Finalists Announced
press-releases | February 14, 2023
Checkerspot Closes $55 Million Series C to Bring the Bioeconomy to Your Doorstep
article | February 6, 2023
The Bioeconomy 500 for 2023 – outstanding leaders of the bioeconomy’s development and deployment
article | December 13, 2022
Checkerspot releases algae-based plastic prototype kit for designers
podcasts | November 17, 2022
Consensus in Conversation: Checkerspot – Alpine Skiing, Algae and Biotech Innovation.
article | November 10, 2022
How and Why Checkerspot is Making Biomaterials Available and Accessible
podcasts | November 7, 2022
It’s a Material World: Demystifying Design with Bio-Based Materials (Ft. Dr. Adrienne McKee) November 7th, 2022
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.
podcasts | October 20, 2022
Danny in the Valley: Checkerspot’s Charles Dimmler: “Using algae to make skis”
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
press-releases | July 11, 2022
Stand Forward, Stand Sideways, Stand for Something: WNDR® Alpine Launches First Snowboards, the BelleTour and the BelleAire
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
podcasts | May 16, 2022
Intuity Performance: Elevate Business Podcast: Humble “Experts” with Charles Dimmler
article | May 4, 2022
Fast Company: World Changing Ideas: 33 projects that prove small businesses can change the world.
videos | April 25, 2022
Pique Action Episode 22 – Checkerspot: Designing with Biology
videos | April 22, 2022
Bio market Insights TV: Performance vs. sustainability is a false choice
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
videos | April 7, 2022
WING™ Platform – Where Products Take Flight
resources | March 17, 2022
Molecular Foundry: Downstream Processing
resources | March 11, 2022
Molecular Foundry: Fermentation Process
article | March 8, 2022
Algae… Nature’s Cost-Effective, Sustainable Biofactories
resources | March 3, 2022
Molecular Foundry: Molecular Biology Process
videos | February 23, 2022
Checkerspot uses Geneious Prime to Create Biobased Materials from Sustainable Inputs
podcasts | February 14, 2022
Encinal High School x Checkerspot: Biotechnology’s Role in Combatting Climate Change
videos | February 12, 2022
What do a beauty CEO, a cell biologist and a chemical engineer have in common?
videos | February 12, 2022
We are inspired by the creativity of the innovators we work with.
press-releases | January 25, 2022
DPS Skis Teams up with Checkerspot to Develop Custom Biomanufactured Materials for their Pagoda Series
article | January 19, 2022
The Synthetic Biology Climate Change Opportunity
article | December 21, 2021
The Best Ski Gear Shaped by the Backcountry Craze. So Long, Stiff Boots
videos | December 3, 2021
Checkerspot WING™ Platform – Where Biomanufactured Performance Products Take Flight
press-releases | November 17, 2021
Algenist And Checkerspot Announce Strategic Partnership Focused On Microalgae Innovation
article | November 9, 2021
How Checkerspot Is Biomanufacturing Better Materials For A Post-Petroleum Future
article | September 21, 2021
10 Future-Thinking Startups Fighting Climate Change
podcasts | September 2, 2021
26: Green Textile Chemicals in a Petroleum-Based Industry
article | September 2, 2021
How the Brand Behind the Algae Skis is Changing Ski Manufacturing for the Better
podcasts | September 2, 2021
18: The Common Thread Between Spider Silk and Google Smart Contacts
resources | June 30, 2021
miDori 100% Biocarbon Algae Biowick Finish
article | June 9, 2021
Reimagining Materials: Proving Biobased Performance In The Outdoor Industry—And Beyond
resources | May 17, 2021
Biomanufacturing Infographic
videos | May 1, 2021
Resilient Value Chains – A Move Towards Local and Sustainable
videos | April 22, 2021
Checkerspot x Autodesk: A Better Future for Snow Sports
resources | April 17, 2021
UNDERSTANDING “BIO” MATERIAL INNOVATIONS
article | April 13, 2021
Interview with Checkerspot Co-Founder and CEO (FREE)
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
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.
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...
podcasts | December 29, 2020
It’s a Material World
article | December 16, 2020
The Climate Torch: CEO Interview with Charles Dimmler of Checkerspot
videos | October 29, 2020
Inspired by Nature
videos | October 22, 2020
From Molecule to Material in a Minute
videos | October 14, 2020
WNDR Alpine – VITALITY
podcasts | October 5, 2020
Leaders on a Mission – Simon Leich
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.
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.
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.
press-releases | August 19, 2020
Checkerspot Closes $36 Million Series B Round
Expanding its Innovation Platform to Create Performance Biomaterials Across Industries.
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.
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.
videos | July 9, 2020
AlgalTech
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,”...
press-releases | July 8, 2020
WNDR Alpine launches the Vital 100 backcountry ski
Introducing Algal Cast, Checkerspot’s next biomanufactured performance material.
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 ...
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.
article | April 20, 2020
Advanced Materials: Interview with Charles Dimmler, CEO and Co-Founder, Checkerspot
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.”
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.”
article | February 6, 2018
ADVANCED MATERIALS SCIENCE – A NEW GENOMIC FRONTIER
Illumina Accelerator Graduate, Checkerspot, is Designing High-Value Materials.