Ilya Gindin

Ilya Gindin is the CEO and Co-Founder of COMU Labs, a company focused on creating sustainable furniture materials using mycelium, a fungal network that can transform agricultural waste into robust, eco-friendly products. His work aims to bridge the gap between sustainability and affordability in the furniture industry by developing materials that mimic traditional plywood but are compostable and made from local waste sources.12

Before founding COMU Labs, Gindin spent over a decade in various tech startups, primarily in software roles, where he served as a product lead and founder. His transition to sustainable materials was motivated by personal experiences with burnout and a newfound passion for furniture design and material science.24 This shift was further inspired by his co-founder, Ilia Litvak, who explored the potential of using restaurant waste to cultivate edible mushrooms, leading to the innovative idea of creating high-density boards from mycelium.23

At COMU Labs, Gindin oversees the development of products that are not only environmentally friendly but also economically viable. The company’s mycelium-based materials are designed to be durable, fire-retardant, and machinable, making them suitable for various applications in construction and furniture design.12

Gindin's vision aligns with addressing significant environmental challenges, such as deforestation and waste management, by promoting sustainable practices within the furniture manufacturing sector.23