Visibuilt

Modern infrastructure depends heavily on asphalt, a material whose key binding component, bitumen, is derived from fossil oil and processed at high temperatures. As road networks expand and cities grow, the environmental impact of these materials has become a major challenge for the construction sector. Lower-carbon alternatives are therefore attracting increasing attention from policymakers, infrastructure developers, and the asphalt industry. Visibuilt, a biotechnology startup from Denmark, develops bio-based binders designed to replace fossil bitumen in pavement materials. The company’s approach draws inspiration from fungal biology, using mycelium—the root-like structure of fungi—to bind mineral aggregates into durable construction materials. By harnessing natural growth processes, the technology enables new pavement materials that can be produced with lower energy input while supporting the transition toward more sustainable infrastructure systems.

Technology and Product

VisiBINDER forms the technological foundation of Visibuilt’s approach, a biological binder derived from mycelium networks. During controlled fermentation processes, fungal structures grow around granular materials and form a natural composite that functions as a structural binder for paving applications. This network is able to create strong connections between aggregates, producing materials suitable for road construction applications. Manufacturing can take place at lower temperatures than conventional asphalt production, which normally relies on heated bitumen mixtures. Reduced processing temperatures lower energy consumption and associated emissions. The binder can be incorporated into existing paving production systems to manufacture materials such as asphalt mixtures and paving stones.

visiBIT aims to provide a fossil-free alternative to traditional asphalt binders such as bitumen. (© Visibuilt)

Industrial Fit and Applications

Road construction and urban infrastructure account for a large share of emissions in the construction sector due to fossil-based binders and energy-intensive production processes. As cities expand and transport networks grow, sustainable alternatives for pavement materials are gaining importance. Visibuilt’s technology introduces a bio-based binder designed to replace bitumen in selected paving applications. Early projects focus on pavements, bike paths, driveways, and other urban surfaces. The technology is currently being validated with construction partners and asphalt producers to ensure compatibility with existing manufacturing processes.

Urban paving visualisation using visiPAVER, based on bio-based visiBINDER, enabling alternatives to both asphalt and cement-based tiles. (© Visibuilt)

Founding Team

Visibuilt was founded in 2023 by biotechnology entrepreneur Line Kloster Pedersen (CEO), with physicist Oleksii Rebrov (CSO) joining as co-founder in 2025. Their team combines expertise in biotechnology, materials science, and engineering to develop scalable mycelium-based binders. Based in Denmark, the team works with research institutions and industry partners to advance the technology toward commercial infrastructure applications.