Fibarcode, a startup spun out of the Shtein Lab, has been awarded a $1.555 million National Science Foundation (NSF) STTR Fast-Track grant to advance its pioneering efforts to enable textile labeling for authentication, traceability, recycling, and other applications.

Founded by Dr. Brian Iezzi (PHD '22), Fibarcode leverages proprietary technology that embeds machine-readable barcodes into textiles and clothing fibers. This allows for a novel method of tracing and authenticating textile materials. Counterfeit textiles are a growing problem, with $179 million of clothing and apparel seized by the United States Customs and Border Protection in 2024. Fibarcode’s innovation creates a fast, cost-effective way to verify the authenticity of textiles and clothing.

The novel technology was developed from research in  Dr. Max Shtein’s lab at the University of Michigan. By utilizing the resources on campus, including a $10,000 grant from the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute, fundamental research was able to be developed in a growing startup. 

“The University has been an amazing partner from day one. We have received significant financial, administrative, and technical support every step of the journey thus far and look forward to continuing this relationship.” - Dr. Max Shtein

Fibarcode’s journey was further propelled through participation in I-Corps programs, including the NSF I-Corps™ National Teams program, and the Great Lakes I-Corps Hub’s Innovator Advisor Community (IAC).

“Participating in I-Corps was an eye-opening experience for me. We quickly realized the importance of establishing a value proposition that benefits everyone in the supply chain to make a product like Fibarcode successful. As our project progressed, partnering with the IAC proved invaluable - especially during the FastTrack preparation process. The IAC team reviewed our proposal, addressed our questions about engaging with the NSF, and offered insightful guidance. On several occasions, when I needed to prepare and refine my pitch for Fibarcode, they assembled panels of experts who provided targeted, constructive feedback that proved critical to our development.” - Dr. Brian Iezzi

In addition to the University of Michigan resources, Brian has been able to leverage the MEDC and EGLE-funded innovation ecosystem, including the Michigan Translational Research & Commercialization (MTRAC) program, Spark’s Business Accelerator Fund and Digital Summer Clinic, the LFDA Intern Matching Program, the NextCycle Michigan Circular Economy Accelerator, and support through 100k Ideas.[SM1] 

With the support of the NSF STTR grant, Fibarcode aims to launch its first pilot program in partnership with industry stakeholders and recycling centers. The company is actively seeking additional collaborators to join the initiative and accelerate the adoption of its technology across the supply chain.

For partnership opportunities and more information, visit www.fibarcode.com.