Custodian of Change: Roni Gamzon

Bio

Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of BioFluff, a BioTech startup creating sustainable, plant-based alternatives to animal and plastic fluffy materials for fashion, interiors, and toys. A 4th-generation entrepreneur and 3rd-generation computer science engineer, Roni is committed to decarbonising the fashion and toys industries through innovative, circular solutions. Roni specialises in driving go-to-market strategies, fostering partnerships, and delivering creative, reliable products that align with sustainability and customer needs. Passionate about using technology to address environmental and social challenges, Roni is also an advisor to Spin Ventures, a VC investing in regenerative solutions for the consumer space. Roni is also an advisor for Collective Fashion Justice, a non-profit specialising in animal welfare in the fashion industry.

Influence & Purpose

WiSL: Tell us about your sphere of influence: the people, ideas, or spaces you shape, and why it matters to you.

RG: As the Co-Founder of BioFluff, my mission is to reduce the use of animal fur and plastic-based faux in the fashion, interiors, and toy industries. Animal fur is not only unethical, but also one of the most polluting materials used in the fashion industry, and over 20 million animals are still being killed for it every year. On top of that the plastic alternatives to the fluffy materials all around us are not only problematic to the environment and use harmful chemicals, they are also a health hazard as they are super shedders of microplastics (3x more than flat fabrics), which is especially concerning when it comes to children’s plush toys, which are constantly near their mouths, noses and airways.

WiSL: What impact are you most proud of creating within your community or industry?

RG: I am proud of creating the opportunity to have healthier products to the planet and the humans and animals that reside on it without compromising on the performance, look and feel of the products we all love and cherish.

Origins & Voice

WiSL: How did you get started in this space, and what helped you find your unique voice as a changemaker?

RG: I am a fourth-generation entrepreneur. I grew up in the startup world, and watched my family create long-lasting impact. I originally started from the tech space, aiming to merge my computer science background with my passion for fashion. As I was investigating the issues and challenges in the fashion industry, I realised that the biggest one is sustainability, and that I don’t want to create an app that would just contribute to this issue. I realised that the best way to solve this is to use technology to create better products, and the biggest impact is materials, which count for 70-80% of the product’s impact.

Visibility & Misunderstanding

WiSL: What’s something you wish more people understood about your work or the change you’re driving?

RG: The urgency and need for alternative materials that are less harmful to the planet and our health isn’t understood enough. There is also a false perception about solutions not yet existing - but our material not only exists but it’s here and ready for use but industry adoption can be painfully slow which is a big challenge.

Values & Alignment

WiSL: What personal values guide your work, and how do they make you the best person for the career you’ve designed for yourself?

RG: My biggest driver is to make the most positive impact and change that I can. I want to use my work, energy and efforts to create the most impact possible.

The Everyday Reality

WiSL: On challenging days, what does your work look or feel like behind the scenes?

RG: Honestly, no day is ever the same in this work! I might be travelling to Milan or London to meet with a brand and present new materials, or on calls with our partners or investors to discuss new developments. As an entrepreneur, I always have to be fast and creative, especially at a startup you end up doing a little bit of everything. Sometimes that literally means carrying a fabric roll to a client, cutting samples, and improvising a lot!

WiSL: On days when you remember why you started, what moments bring you joy and affirmation?

RG: When I see the amount of fluffy things around us, especially toys, and the amount of plastic and chemicals that are constantly next to children. That always gives me more motivation to continue what I’m doing! Seeing our new materials developed and used in prototypes by brands is definitely affirming too! We’re definitely making progress with our mission.

Reflection & Growth

WiSL: Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself at the beginning of this journey?

RG: To keep smiling, and never be afraid to go higher, push harder or go bigger!

WiSL: What leadership qualities are you currently nurturing, and how are you actively developing them?

RG: I am fairly young (25), and I definitely have a lot of leadership and management skills to develop. I try to surround myself with incredibly experienced individuals and learn different aspects from them.

Words by: Roni GamZon