Lisanne Peters: "With the voucher, I was able to expand my business further"

“Great!” Lisanne laughs. “We’re currently in the middle of the patent application process, which shows we’re working on something truly innovative.” With her company, SymbioMatter, she is developing Symbiofoam, a material designed to replace plastic. And that’s much needed, Lisanne believes. “Plastic is made from fossil fuels, which makes it durable, difficult to break down, and often ends up in landfills. On the other hand, the foam we’ve developed is biodegradable and made from natural products.”

Pitching the idea

During her graduation show, Lisanne was scouted for the Innovative Student of the Netherlands competition. Winning that competition brought her work to the attention of the ArtEZ Business Centre (ABC), which encouraged her to apply for a starter voucher. “They noticed that I already had a business alongside my studies,” Lisanne explains. “Through the ABC, I connected with Cily, who informed me about the €2,500 starter voucher. That’s how everything started rolling.”

Because she was already working on SymbioMatter, Lisanne was no stranger to writing business plans or pitching ideas. “But I saw every opportunity as a new chance to learn. Applying for the voucher also forces you to think critically about your finances, which is very healthy. Money isn’t the main driver; it’s a tool to sustain and grow my business. You have to get it from somewhere, so investments, funds, and grants are always welcome.”

Tackling a traditional marktet

Lisanne used the starter voucher to professionalize SymbioMatter further. “I used the funds to develop the product further, hire experts, and focus on promotion. For example, my material was featured during an exhibition at the Milan Design Week.”

How did she come up with the idea for SymbioMatter? “I started noticing just how much plastic is used and thrown away—it’s incredibly inefficient. Plastic is difficult to recycle, releases toxic gases, and leaves behind microplastics. With our Symbiofoam, we offer a much more sustainable alternative.” When asked if something like this didn’t already exist, Lisanne explains: “Many ideas have been tried before, but making soft foam from natural materials is very challenging. Plus, the plastic market is highly traditional and doesn’t always support innovation. But I see a real need for it.”

Revenue model

Developing a sustainable material is one thing, but bringing it to market is another. “Material innovation often takes five to ten years before it’s widely adopted,” Lisanne explains. “It’s a long process, but every step forward motivates me to keep going.” Is she already able to earn a living from her business? She nods. “Thankfully, yes. In addition to some paid projects with our foam, I gave masterclasses, worked on grant proposals, and wrote a book: SymbioMatter; A Biomaterial Guide. That book was partly funded by the voucher as well.”

In short, Lisanne’s company is thriving. “Even though I started SymbioMatter during my studies and didn’t need the starter voucher for a kickstart, it has still been precious. I highly recommend that other students apply, as it provides many learning opportunities and, of course, a great financial boost to help your business grow.”

Collaborating with competitors

Lisanne has a clear vision for SymbioMatter: a world where sustainable materials like Symbiofoam become the standard. “I don’t necessarily need to be the market leader; I just want my material to prove itself and get used on a large scale.” Given the urgency of the issue, she also sees collaboration with competitors as essential. “The plastic market is our shared competitor, and it takes a lot of workforce to bring alternatives into the world. But I truly believe this change is possible.”

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