Our online Course
Developments in Mycelium Applications
Thu, February 27, 2025
9:30-10:30US EST (15:30-16:30 CET)
Engaging workshop where you will get a sneak peek into the course content, meet our brilliant speakers, and delve into the fascinating realm of mycelium.
Sun, April 6, 2025
12:00-13:00 US EST (18:00-19:00 CET)
Short introduction to the course, how to use the learning platform “Journey”, and how we have structured each of the 4 main course days
12:00-15:00 US EST (18:00-21:00 CET)
Day 1
Introduction
Welcome to the course! The session includes an introduction of the organizers, an overview of the 4-day agenda, housekeeping rules, and a chance for participants to introduce themselves.
Theme: Conservation of Fungi
The day explores the biology, ecology, and conservation of fungi, featuring two expert speakers:
Dr. Bethan Manley on mapping and protecting mycorrhizal fungi.
Phil Ayres, PhD on Fungal Materials and Fungal Architectures.
Conclusion
The day concludes with discussions or activities, open Q&A, feedback collection, and a take-home challenge. A preview of Day 2 will be shared before closing.
12:00-15:00 US EST (18:00-21:00 CET)
Day 2
Introduction
Day 2 begins with a review of traditional mushroom-based foods, the development of innovative mycelium-based products, and an analysis of market trends, nutritional benefits, and challenges in mushroom-based foods.
Theme: Abundance Made Real – Financing Possibilities
Speakers:
Dr. Carlos Otero: Presentation on resource-efficient fungi systems for Earth and beyond.
Shaïla SAHAI: Presentation on business structures and financing options.
Conclusion
The day wraps up with activities or reflections and a preview of Day 3.
12:00-15:00 US EST (18:00-21:00 CET)
Day 3
Introduction
Day 3 begins with an overview of How to cultivate mushrooms, Substrate production, and Bioremediation with fungi.
Other applications and ongoing research in the mycelium world will also be explored.
Theme: Farming Success and Speaking Mushies
Speakers:
Eric Myers, Myers Mushrooms: Presentation on cultivating mushrooms commercially and scaling material innovations.
Ivanka Milenkovic: Presentation on bioremediation and substrate production from waste materials.
Conclusion
The day concludes with a creative discussion on mycelium applications, environmental benefits, and market potential. A take-home challenge will follow, along with a preview of Day 4.
12:00-15:00 US EST (18:00-21:00 CET)
Day 4
Introduction
Day 4 starts with an overview of business principles, case studies, and key factors contributing to the success of mycelium and mushroom-based product companies.
Theme: Repurposing Dreams
Speakers:
Daniel Silberstein, Terra Bioindustries: Presentation on repurposing brewing equipment for mycelium production.
Tatiana von Rheinbaben, Farm transitions: Presentation on transitioning farms from livestock to mushroom production.
Rami Jadaa, Fotortec: Presentation on the role of startups in advancing the mycelium industry.
Conclusion
The course concludes with a group discussion, reflection, and feedback collection for Day 4 and the entire course. Participants will receive information on next steps, and those attending the hands-on course will be wished safe travels.
Disclaimer
Attendance is mandatory; however, to accommodate time zone differences and work-related obligations, we will be recording the sessions for those with exceptional circumstances.
Meet OUR
Expert Speakers
Diverse and global professionals from the mushroom industry will be waiting for you
- Dr. Bethan Manley
- Dr. Carlos Nuñez
- Shaïla SAHAI
- Ivanka Milenković
- Tatiana von Rheinbaben
- Daniel Silberstein
- Rami Jadaa
- Eric Myers
- Phil Ayres
Dr. Bethan Manley
SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks)
Bethan is a geneticist specializing in symbiotic fungi. Bethan began studying underground fungal networks during a PhD at the University of Cambridge examining Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and their genetic interactions with crop plants. She has since continued work on the genomics of symbiotic fungi as a Postdoctoral Researcher, and worked as a Senior Computer Biologist at the Sanger Institute, UK, on the Tree of Life Project that aims to sequence all eukaryotic species on Earth. Bethan is now the Programme Manager for Global Data Science at SPUN, coordinating samples and collaborations from all over the world, and working on the best ways to identify mycorrhizal species from DNA from soil samples.
About SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks):
SPUN is a scientific research organization that maps mycorrhizal fungal communities and advocates for their protection. Mycorrhizal networks regulate the Earth’s climate and ecosystems, yet they are not considered in current conservation and climate agendas. SPUN aims to change this by working with local communities and global researchers to create open-source maps of the planet’s fungal networks. SPUN uses large datasets and machine learning models to predict where there are hotspots of mycorrhizal diversity, and where they are most at risk. SPUN aims to track the responses of mycorrhizal communities to climate change and understand their contributions to biodiversity and ecosystem functions so that mycorrhizal fungi can be considered in restoration and conservation decisions.
Presentation: Mapping and protecting the world’s mycorrhizal fungi: a hidden link between biodiversity protection and carbon drawdown.
Dr. Carlos Nuñez, formerly at Mycorena
Carlos’s interest in fungi began to emerge during his early years as a biology undergraduate at the University of Alcala de Henares (Madrid). His steps however led him to study a master’s in molecular biology at the University of Umeå (Sweden), where he also obtained his PhD in Clinical Microbiology developing novel treatments for bacterial infections.
After his PhD years, Carlos rediscovered his longstanding fascination with fungi. He joined Mycorena in Gothenburg (Sweden), initially supporting the development of the fermentation process, and subsequently working in innovation and sustainability.
He worked as TechMyc Manager, overseeing projects focused on upcycling side streams from different industries and developing circular processes using filamentous fungi. Connected to the latter, Carlos conceptualized and designed a circular process to produce food in space based on microalgae and fungi parallel cultivations, which was one of the winners of Phase 2 of the Deep Space Food Challenge from NASA and has been selected and funded as an early Technology development project from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Presentation:
“Development of resource-efficient fungi systems for Earth and beyond”
The presentation highlights fungi’s role in resource efficiency, circular economies, and upcycling industrial by-products, emphasizing ongoing projects and algae-fungi co-production systems for space missions.
Shaïla SAHAI
We Take Part
As the founder and CEO of We Take Part, Shaïla leads a regulated European equity crowdfunding platform exclusively dedicated to cleantech and climate tech startups. With a strong background in sustainable finance, Shaïla specializes in structuring innovative business models and financing strategies that align with long-term environmental impact.
Her mission is democratizing access to impactful investments, empowering startups to accelerate the green transition while enabling investors to participate in sustainable growth. Through her work, she aims to bridge the gap between purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the capital needed to scale innovative solutions.
As a guest speaker for the “Business Structure and Financing Options” module, Shaïla brings expertise in designing robust financial frameworks, structuring innovative funding solutions, and leveraging equity crowdfunding to fuel entrepreneurial success. Her insights are grounded in practical experience, having built and led a platform that aligns financial goals with sustainability objectives.
Presentation: “Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Mycelium Innovation”
The introduction to mycelium business principles outlines the process of building a mycelium-based business, focusing on legal structure, compliance, and business plan essentials. It also explores various financing options, including crowdfunding, grants, partnerships, lenders, and venture capital, to help entrepreneurs secure the necessary support for growth.
Ivanka Milenković
Ekofungi
Ivanka is the founder of Ekofungi and its philosophy and cofounder of Ekofungi Coop. She is an expert in mushroom genetics and has two decades of global experience developing mushroom cultivation on waste materials. She is the winner of the 2014 Success Flower for Women’s Entrepreneurship in Serbia. She is also the co-founder of AgroNet NGO with a decade of experience in project management.
Presentation: Ivanka’s presentation will focus on how we can use fungi for bioremediation and what substrate we can use to grow fungi, including production of the substrate based on coffee waste, straw, etc.
Tatiana von Rheinbaben
Farm Transitions
Tati is a global citizen with a background in molecular biology and environmental engineering and science. After an internship at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and an internship at The Not Company (NotCo) in Chile, Tati worked for the animal rights organization Surge and speaker and educator Ed Winters (known as Earthling Ed) for four years. Now she works for the biotechnology consultancy Vireo Advisors.
Tati also worked one year at Refarm’d helping dairy farmers become oat milk makers and co-founded the Farm Transition Academy. While she is no longer involved with any of these organizations, she is still involved in the farm transition space.
Life mantra: Don’t hope for things to happen. MAKE them happen.
Presentation: “From Pigs to Mushrooms: Farm Transitions 101 & The Power of Mycelia ”
Will address the struggles faced by animal farmers, highlighting the exploitation they often endure. She will discuss “farm transitions,” which help livestock farmers shift to alternative industries, such as mushroom production, that do not involve raising animals for food or materials.
Daniel Silberstein
University studies in international business, with a focus on sustainable development.
Certified by Mycelia Academy in Mycelium and Substrate Production. Malting and Brewing Science by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. 10 years of experience in food and beverage, 8 years in California’s brewing industry.
Excited to support projects in the bioeconomy through advising on food processing and business development.
Currently, Product Industrialization Manager for Terra Bioindustries exploring new markets and product applications for our upcycled protein and sugar.
Expert Panels on Fermentation for KM Zero, EATEX and We Take Part
Presentation: “Repurposing Brewing Equipment for Mycelium Production.”
Capital expenses (CAPEX) is a barrier to entry and scaling up in this growing industry. Mycelium production finds itself in between a food product and requires high sanitation standards. Sterile environments are inaccessible for most projects, so we will explore what we can learn from the brewing industry, a machinery-heavy industry that is always reinventing itself, providing affordable alternatives to the highly specialized sterile environments of labs and pilot systems.
Rami Jadaa
Fotortec
Rami grew up very concerned about children’s malnutrition in Central and South America. He started Fotortec to upcycle vegetable side streams into protein-rich mushrooms. Fotortec helps food manufacturers supply consumers with products that are more aligned with their values in health, environment, and society.
Presentation: Sum up the role of startups in growing the mycelium industry based on all previous presentations during our course as well as Rami’s own experience founding Fotortec.
Eric Myers
Myers Mushroom
Owner of Myers Mushrooms, is a cultivator and innovator in the field of fungi. His farm produces 100 to 200 pounds of gourmet mushrooms weekly, supplying top chefs and local markets. Beyond cultivation, Eric is an inventor, creating and selling specialized equipment that empowers farmers nationwide to grow their own mushrooms, advancing mycelium applications in agriculture and beyond.
Presentation: “Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Mycelium Innovation”
The introduction to mycelium business principles outlines the process of building a mycelium-based business, focusing on legal structure, compliance, and business plan essentials. It also explores various financing options, including crowdfunding, grants, partnerships, lenders, and venture capital, to help entrepreneurs secure the necessary support for growth.
Phil Ayres
Biohybrid Architecture
Phil is a weaver, amateur fermenter and architect. He holds the Chair for Biohybrid Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy which investigates the applied use of weaving and fermentation for creating novel structures and materials in a built environment context.
Presentation: Dive into fungal materials and fungal architectures.
SPECIAL OFFER
20% discount on in-person, on hand mushroom production experience
in RotterZwam (Netherlands), Ekofungi (Serbia), and Myers Mushroom (USA)
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR…
Book your seat now!
For any inquire leave you message here and we will get back to you ASAP 🙂
CONTACT
Email: team@dev-myc-app.com