# Thomas Jonas

> Thomas Jonas is the French-born co-founder and CEO of Nature’s Fynd, a Chicago food company that grows Fy Protein from a microorganism first isolated during NASA-supported research in Yellowstone. After leading global packaging businesses, he changed direction during a sabbatical, joined scientist Mark Kozubal, helped pivot their work from biofuel to food, and built a fermentation platform now used for dairy-free yogurt, meatless foods, space-food research and the fungi-based Hydefy material.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Nature’s Fynd
- **Organizations:** Nature’s Fynd, Sustainable Bioproducts, MeadWestvaco, Alcan, Rio Tinto, Pechiney, French Air Force
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** MBA, HEC Paris
- **Known for:** Co-founded and leads Nature’s Fynd, commercializing a new fungi-protein platform from NASA-supported Yellowstone research., Helped guide the company’s pivot from biofuel research to food production., Led Nature’s Fynd through a $350 million Series C financing announced in 2021.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2008** — Held senior management and consulting roles including positions associated with Pechiney, Alcan and Rio Tinto.
- **2008** — Joined MeadWestvaco to lead its Personal & Beauty Care business after serving as general manager of Alcan Beauty Solutions.
- **2012** — Took a sabbatical in Hawaii; a beach encounter led him toward Mark Kozubal’s research and laboratory work in Montana.
- **2014** — Became CEO and co-founder of the venture then known as Sustainable Bioproducts.
- **2015** — The team shifted its emphasis from biofuel toward food protein after recognizing the microorganism’s protein-producing potential.
- **2020** — Sustainable Bioproducts became Nature’s Fynd and opened production capacity in Chicago near the historic Union Stock Yard.
- **2021** — Nature’s Fynd announced a $350 million Series C and brought Fy-based consumer foods into retail.
- **2022** — Nature’s Fynd successfully grew Fy Protein in a bioreactor aboard the International Space Station; Jonas was named HEC of the Year 2022.
- **2024** — Hydefy, a fungi-based material developed by Nature’s Fynd, debuted in a Stella McCartney Ryder bag on the Summer 2025 runway.
- **2025** — Nature’s Fynd’s Strawberry Dairy-Free Fy Yogurt won a NEXTY Award, and the company introduced Fy Bites while seeking wider retail distribution.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and leads Nature’s Fynd, commercializing a new fungi-protein platform from NASA-supported Yellowstone research.
- Helped guide the company’s pivot from biofuel research to food production.
- Led Nature’s Fynd through a $350 million Series C financing announced in 2021.
- Oversaw the development of a Chicago production operation using liquid-air interface fermentation.
- Supported work that grew Fy Protein aboard the International Space Station.
- Named HEC of the Year 2022 by HEC Alumni.
- Extended the fermentation platform into Hydefy, a fungi-based material debuted by Stella McCartney.
- Led the company as its Strawberry Dairy-Free Fy Yogurt won a 2025 NEXTY Award.

## Latest updates

- **2025-03** — Nature’s Fynd’s Strawberry Dairy-Free Fy Yogurt won the 2025 NEXTY Award for Best New Dairy Alternative; the company also introduced Fy Bites at Natural Products Expo West and discussed expanding distribution.
- **2025-02** — Jonas appeared on the Climate Tech Cocktails podcast from Nature’s Fynd’s Chicago headquarters to discuss fungi-powered nutrition and the industrial history of the site.
- **2024-09** — A Stella McCartney Ryder bag made with Nature’s Fynd’s Hydefy fungi-based material debuted during the Summer 2025 runway presentation.

## Links

- Website: https://naturesfynd.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-jonas-569407
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/naturesfynd
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturesfynd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturesfynd/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naturesfynd

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/thomas-jonas
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26