Dr. Michael Layani still remembers the science kit he received as a kid. “I always loved chemistry and different materials,” he recalls. When it came time to choose a course of study, there was no question: Chemistry at the Hebrew University. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he decided to continue on to graduate studies. He began conducting research in Prof. Shlomo Magdassi’s lab, where he eventually completed his PhD, with a focus on functional chemistry. “I like seeing the end product,” he says.
After a three-year research fellowship in Singapore, Michael returned to Prof. Magdassi’s lab, where he continued to conduct research. Together they began collaborating with Prof. Oded Shoeyov, developing a wood-based product that would be environmentally friendly, durable, and functional. Two years later, Michael decided it was time to take the leap from research to entrepreneurship—DaikaWood was born.
“Studying applied chemistry provided me with excellent research skills, while also helping me translate my findings into industrial applications.”
DaikaWood solves two problems. First, there is no circular economy for wood waste. Waste from industry, landscaping and agriculture is not being reused or upcycled into anything useful. Second, the market is full of products made from fossil fuels—plastics, laminates, and more.
DaikaWood is an all-natural product that requires little energy, creates zero waste, is extremely durable, and can be molded or printed into anything. It transforms waste into durable products, replacing materials that contribute to deforestation. Daika’s product is entirely adaptable: the components, pricing, manufacturing process, and supply chain. “If you want to disrupt a mass market,” Michael says, “make sure you check all your boxes.” And he has.
Michael named the company Daika for its double meaning in Aramaic and Japanese (a very narrow Venn diagram, he will admit). A long-time admirer of traditional Japanese carpentry, ‘daiku’ means ‘carpenter,’ while in Aramaic, ‘daika’ means ‘to learn from.’
In 2022 and in 2023, DaikaWood was a finalist for the Hebrew University’s inaugural Asper Prize. During that time, the company installed its first custom-designed wall in the offices of Yissum, the Hebrew University's tech-transfer company.
“The Hebrew University is an excellent place to train. I gained amazing research and learning skills and was able to put what I learned into practice. I graduated fully equipped to tackle problems head on.”
