Micropep develops micropeptide crop protection technologies and an AI-powered discovery platform called Krisalix™ for rapid discovery of micropeptide molecules. Krisalix combines proprietary design algorithms with a suite of bioassays to measure efficiency, stability, and production feasibility. The company plans to use the new funding to solidify its market position and strengthen existing partnerships. It also intends to build new relationships with R&D, manufacturing, commercial, and distribution partners in the industry. Micropep is led by CEO Thomas Laurent and operates in the US and France. The firm has raised over $60M in total funding to date. Micropep builds pesticides from micropeptides—natural proteins under 100 amino acids—aiming for a new class of crop protection that is more targeted and less toxic than synthetic chemicals. Its initial products are leaf‑applied sprays for soybean that wait for fungal spores and then disrupt fungal cell membranes, causing the fungus to self‑destruct. The company has developed predictive models and plans to test 1,000–2,000 candidates in the lab, narrow to 50–100 for greenhouse trials, and advance leads into field trials. A key technical challenge is peptide persistence in soil, so Micropep has optimized formulations that remain stable on leaves for a few days while it seeks more durable candidates. Micropep is running regulatory trials in the U.S., Brazil and Europe, aims for regulatory review by 2026, and hopes to be on the market in the U.S. and Brazil by 2028 and in Europe by 2030. Founder Thomas Laurent says the company will partner with other firms to embed its ingredients in third‑party products, and the startup recently raised funding to support its go‑to‑market strategy. Micropep has developed a patented, non‑GMO technological platform that uses exogenous micropeptides—short natural plant peptides—to precisely modulate plant gene expression without altering DNA. The company positions its products as biological, spray‑applied alternatives to conventional chemical crop protection aimed at controlling resistant weeds and pathogens while preserving yields and the environment. Micropep was founded in 2016 as a spin‑off of the LRSV plant research laboratory at CNRS and Toulouse University and is based in Toulouse, France. The firm is moving from research toward commercialization and is accelerating development of its first micropeptide candidates. The recent financing will fund expansion into the United States and the recruitment of a local team to deploy solutions in that market. The company emphasizes the broad potential of its discovery platform and intends to bring cost‑effective, environmentally safer tools to farmers. Micropep develops novel peptide-based biological products for agriculture using a proprietary discovery platform. The company has created miPEPs, a family of natural peptides that regulate plant microRNAs and can be sprayed to precisely enhance plant traits without modifying DNA. Led by Thomas Laurent, Micropep was spun out from the CNRS and Toulouse University in 2016. The firm aims to address disease control and weed suppression and to enter the EUR 47 billion-plus pesticides market, initially targeting $28 billion herbicides and fungicides markets in the Americas and Europe. The Series A financing will be used to further develop its discovery platform and progress its pipeline. Micropep positions its technology as an alternative to traditional chemical pesticides by leveraging biological peptide solutions. Micropep Technologies is a Toulouse, France-based biotech company developing biological alternatives to agrochemicals. Founded in 2016 by Thomas Laurent, the company focuses on bioherbicides and biostimulants. Its core technology uses plant-derived "micro-peptides" to transiently modulate gene expression and regulate plant growth while leaving DNA intact. Micropep currently advances four development programs targeting germination, flowering, growth, and weed control. The company raised €4M in Series A funding led by Sofinnova Partners. The funds will be used to strengthen the technology platform, advance R&D programs to proof of concept, and initiate international commercial growth.

Total raised

$64M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Sep 2024