Biosphere designs benchtop glass bioreactors that are sterilized entirely with UV-C LEDs to reduce contamination risk in cell‑based manufacturing. Its core product is a three‑liter reactor with four LEDs that illuminate the entire chamber and instrumentation. The startup is testing eight reactors as part of a $1.5 million Department of Defense project to explore biomanufacturing high‑performance oils. Biosphere says using LEDs could cut costs by replacing steam sterilization and enabling cheaper materials like plastics rather than heat‑hardened stainless steel or single‑use vessels. The company is building a pilot 100‑liter bioreactor that can be sterilized with its technology and is exploring designs for 40,000–80,000 liter systems. Biosphere has raised $8.8 million in seed funding led by Lowercarbon Capital and VXI Capital, with participation from B37 Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Founders Fund, and GS Futures.

Total raised

$9M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Jan 2025