Dan Widmaier
Chairman and chief executive of Bolt Projects (Bolt Threads)
Dan Widmaier is the co-founder and chief executive of Bolt Threads, now listed as Bolt Projects Holdings, a biotechnology company that develops protein-based materials such as its Vegan Silk platform. A chemist by training, he has led the company since 2010 and is one of the best known figures in biomaterials for fashion and beauty.
| Role | Chairman and CEO, Bolt Projects Holdings |
|---|---|
| CEO since | May 2010 |
| Listing | Nasdaq: BSLK |
| Education | PhD, University of California, San Francisco |
| Known for | Vegan Silk and biomaterials |
Who is Dan Widmaier?
Dan Widmaier is a scientist and entrepreneur who runs Bolt Threads, the San Francisco Bay Area company that uses synthetic biology to create new materials. The business now trades on Nasdaq as Bolt Projects Holdings (ticker BSLK), and Widmaier serves as its chairman and chief executive, according to the company's announcements as of December 2025. He has led Bolt as chief executive since May 2010.
Career
Widmaier studied chemistry at the University of Washington, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2003, and earned a PhD in chemistry and chemical biology from the University of California, San Francisco in 2010. That year he co-founded Bolt to develop new materials through protein engineering and fermentation.
He has spoken at events including the Forbes Under 30 Summit, Hello Tomorrow and SynBioBeta, and advised the materials start-up Novoloop from 2020 to 2021. After the company became publicly listed, it reported fast growth from a small base: around 4.5 million US dollars of revenue for 2025, more than 200% above the previous year, driven by demand for its Vegan Silk technology platform, with guidance of 11 million dollars for 2026.
Influence on the fashion business
Bolt Threads became one of the most visible names in the next-generation materials movement, which aims to replace animal-derived or petroleum-based inputs with lab-grown or bio-based alternatives. Its work drew attention to biotechnology as a possible source of new textiles and finishes, while also showing how long and capital-intensive the path from laboratory to industrial scale can be.
Dan Widmaier and technology
Bolt's approach is built on protein engineering and fermentation. Its Vegan Silk technology platform is the main driver of its current revenue, according to the company. Widmaier's scientific training in chemistry and chemical biology is reflected in a business built on engineered materials rather than finished garments.
Why it matters
Widmaier is a reference point for how science-led start-ups engage with fashion. His company's journey from a fashion materials pioneer to a listed biomaterials platform illustrates both the promise of synthetic biology for sustainable products and the commercial realities of scaling it. As a listed company, Bolt also reports its revenue and guidance publicly, which gives the industry rare visibility into the economics of a biomaterials business.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Dan Widmaier?
Dan Widmaier is the co-founder and chief executive of Bolt Threads, now listed as Bolt Projects Holdings on Nasdaq. He holds a PhD in chemistry and chemical biology and has led the biomaterials company since 2010.
What does Bolt Threads make?
Bolt Threads develops bioengineered materials based on proteins made through fermentation. Its current focus is the Vegan Silk technology platform, which drove more than 200% revenue growth in 2025.