Proterro produces non-crop-based, noncellulosic sucrose via engineered sucrose-producing cyanobacteria and a high-density, modular solid-phase photobioreactor. The company projects production costs below $0.05 per pound, undercutting sugarcane, corn and cellulosic approaches. Proterro holds a notice of allowance from the USPTO on a composition-of-matter patent covering its engineered microorganisms and genetic code, and it is adding to its patent portfolio. Management plans to use new capital to optimize genetic engineering and accelerate piloting of a full-scale photobioreactor. The company is completing designs for a demonstration-scale facility and pursuing business partnerships. Leadership includes advisors with experience from BP, Cargill, Gevo and Solazyme, and the company was recognized by Lux Research for its disruptive potential.

Total raised

$4M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Dec 2012