Gauri Gautam is a 25-year-old biomaterials designer from India using mycelium to turn agricultural and textile waste into materials for interior products.

Mycelius uses mycelium—the root-like structure of fungi—to transform agricultural and textile waste into low-carbon materials for interiors and other design applications. Growing new products from locally available waste streams, the company aims to replace more extractive or toxic materials while reducing emissions and keeping discarded matter in use. This work brings biotechnology, product design and circular manufacturing into the same development process, with an emphasis on creating materials that can move from laboratory experimentation into practical use in buildings and everyday spaces.

Gautam founded Mycelius and serves on its core research and development team. She leads biomaterial innovation, oversees product development and builds the partnerships needed to move new materials from laboratory testing into real-world applications.