The future of construction is bio-manufactured. RongoDesign launches the RongoFoam™ crowdfunding campaign!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if the materials we use to build our houses not only didn’t pollute, but actually helped the planet breathe?

We, the RongoDesign team, have turned this vision into reality and have officially launched the crowdfunding campaign on consolid8 for RongoFoam™ – the first locally made mycelium insulation panels.

The Mycelium Revolution: How Mushrooms Are Reshaping the Future of Construction

In an era where the construction industry is responsible for about 37% of global CO₂ emissions, the need for sustainable alternatives is no longer just a trend but an urgency. The Cluj-based startup RongoDesign, winner of the first prize at the “Romanians are Entrepreneurs 2025” competition, proposes a radical solution: construction materials that are grown, not manufactured.

The heart of our innovation is mycelium—the vegetative network of mushrooms. Using an advanced biotechnological process, we transform local agricultural waste (straw, sawdust) and even coffee grounds into a solid and high-performance composite called RongoFoam™.

Essentially, we “feed” the mycelium with these wastes in specific molds. As the mushroom grows, it acts as a natural adhesive, binding the particles into a dense structure. The result? A material with astonishing properties:

• Superior thermal insulation: The porous structure of mycelium captures air, providing a thermal barrier that rivals synthetic materials, reducing heating costs in harsh winters.

• Acoustic performance: Our panels absorb sound much more effectively than polystyrene, making them ideal for offices, studios, or noisy urban dwellings.

• Fire safety and health: Unlike plastic materials that emit toxic gases at high temperatures, mycelium-based materials are naturally fire-resistant and have zero volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

• Negative carbon footprint: Our production process consumes CO₂ instead of emitting it, and at the end of their life, the product is 100% biodegradable.

Applicability: From Walls to Art Objects

Although our main focus is the construction sector, the versatility of mycelium allows us to explore multiple directions:

1. Insulation and acoustic panels: For green and energy-efficient buildings.

2. Interior Design: Lamps, aesthetic panels, and unique decorative elements with an organic texture.

3. Packaging: Sustainable packaging that can completely replace expanded polystyrene.

Through our revolutionary product, RongoFoam™, we are transforming mushroom mycelium into the building material of the future: insulating, fire-resistant, and 100% biodegradable.

By using agricultural waste, we “grow” materials that provide thermal and acoustic efficiency, making them ideal for passive houses and urban studios. With zero toxic emissions (Zero VOC), unlike conventional polystyrene. At the end of their life, the material reverts to fertilizer for the soil.

Our vision does not stop at a single laboratory. The long-term plan of RongoDesign aims for a paradigm shift in the circular economy through the decentralization of production, the standardization of green construction, and continuous innovation.

We aim to create mobile and local production units that utilize the specific waste of each region. This way, we reduce the carbon footprint generated by transport.

We want RongoFoam™ to become a standard in European sustainable architecture, providing a viable large-scale alternative for thermal insulation.

And we are already exploring the use of other types of fungi to create materials with varying densities, from alternatives to synthetic leather (Myco-Leather) to biocomposite load-bearing structures.

The Power of Community: We Need You

Such a magnitude of innovation cannot be achieved in isolation. To turn this dream into reality, we need the collective strength of those who believe in a cleaner future.

Why do we need help now? The transition from the lab to mass production requires specific machinery and rigorous international certifications. Our crowdfunding campaign is not just about funding; it’s about validating an idea that can save entire ecosystems.

Support us on Consolid8 and choose your reward!

We have officially launched the campaign on the Consolid8 platform, where every contribution is rewarded with packages designed to engage you directly in the biotechnology revolution:

• “Grow It Yourself” (GIY) Package: You receive your own mycelium kit to experiment with growing the material right at home.

• Organic Design Items: Finished lamps and acoustic panels that combine modern aesthetics with ecological ethics.

• “Early Adopter” Acoustic Insulation Packages: Reserve your RongoFoam™ panels at preferential prices for your renovation project.

• Corporate Impact Packages: Consultancy and sustainable branding solutions for companies that want to demonstrate their commitment to the environment.

Every share, every purchased package, and every supporter on Consolid8 is a (living!) brick in the foundation of a healthier industry.

Let’s grow the future together!