“The Biofabricate Summit has always been about innovation and connection,” reads the preheader of an early email blast from the biomaterial innovation organization. “That’s why today, we want to share an important update about the future of our gathering.͏”
For reference, Biofabricate brought fashion’s next-generation materials community to Paris last January for the first time in the organization’s 10-year history. In October, Biofabricate announced that the transformative summit would return to the City of Light for the first three days of April.
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“Last year’s Paris Summit was our most impactful yet, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from startups, brands, and investors alike,” Biofabricate founder Suzanne Lee wrote in the email sent to subscribers this morning. “And so, we had every expectation that 2025 would enjoy the same success. But the landscape has shifted.”
Those landscape shifts Lee’s referencing (presumptuously) include the supply chain issues, inflation, shifting consumer behavior and overall economic uncertainty.
All these things, in turn, put a strain on summit ticket sales, rendering the current model unsustainable. As such, Lee said, this is an “exceptionally challenging” time for innovators.
“Startups across sectors have faced funding challenges, reflected in a decline in exhibit commitments and ticket demand for the Summit, and broader calls for financial support from our community,” she continued. “In light of these stark realities, the Summit—in its current model—is no longer viable.”
Biofabricate is “where cutting-edge biology meets transformative design,” per the company’s mission to “ignite partnerships and fuel investments.” The summit has, historically, served as a “vital hub” for next-gen and biomaterial innovators; so much so that Biofabricate introduced a membership network last September ahead of NYC Climate Week.
While the catalytic consultant “had every expectation that 2025 would follow suit,” the bio-revolutionist posted on LinkedIn, that expectation no longer exists.
“We remain committed to the spirit of connection that has defined the Biofabricate Summit for over a decade,” reads the LinkedIn post. “As we pause to reassess our approach, we are exploring ideas for more accessible events that return us to our roots, span a wider array of sectors, and lower the barriers to entry.”