Participated · Seed · Jul 2026

Quercus Biosolutions leverages generative AI tools adapted from drug discovery to design novel mini proteins that bind validated biological targets in weeds. Unlike traditional approaches that screen naturally occurring proteins, the company designs proteins from scratch to potentially overcome mechanisms of resistance to conventional small-molecule herbicides. It currently runs five active programs and has multiple field trials underway. The company plans to expand its herbicide pipeline and pursue regulatory work to advance at least one product toward late-stage development. Quercus is also exploring broader applications of its platform against fungi, insects and other agricultural pests. The recent $5 million seed raise will fund these development and regulatory efforts.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2026

ZymeCO develops enzyme-based biological tools that break down turf thatch, algae and organic matter to support soil, crop and turf health. Its product portfolio includes ThatchZyme and other formulations produced via fungal fermentation and enzymatic discovery. The company combines enzyme discovery, fungal fermentation, biological formulation, agronomic insight and focused product development. ZymeCO serves growers, golf course superintendents, lawn care and sports turf managers and is expanding commercial reach in those markets. Management cited strong customer demand and rapid revenue growth leading up to the Series A. The company plans to scale manufacturing, accelerate field validation, broaden commercialization and expand R&D to address pest control and other customer needs.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2026

Fermeate develops an optogenetics platform that uses light-sensitive proteins and AI-driven light patterns to control gene expression in microbial fermentation processes. The technology can be retrofitted into existing stainless-steel fermenters by recirculating culture through an external light-delivery device, enabling higher and more sustained productivity. Founded in 2024 by Kevin Xu, PhD, and Saurabh Malani, PhD, the company has partnerships with four global food and ingredient companies and reports up to a 200% increase in protein production in under six months, with potential for up to 10x gains. Fermeate has validated its approach on multiple industrial host strains, including conventional and non-conventional yeasts and bacteria. The company is generating revenue through several paid projects while exploring business models and aims to scale its tech to improve capital efficiency across biomanufacturing operations.

Participated · Series A · May 2022

Mazen Animal Health is an Iowa-based startup developing oral alternatives to injectable vaccines for pigs and poultry using plants—particularly corn—as molecular farms to produce vaccine proteins. Administering vaccines in feed reduces worker exposure and labor compared with injecting animals. The company says its plant-based production is cheaper than precision fermentation in bioreactors and traditional vaccine methods. Mazen has made progress on a lead oral vaccine for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) and is conducting USDA-required efficacy studies. The Series A financing will be used to scale commercial manufacturing capacity and to advance a pipeline of other vaccines, including one for coccidiosis in poultry.

Participated · Seed · Oct 2021

Continuum Ag develops TopSoil, a web-based platform that aggregates agronomic data — including Haney soil tests, lab data, sensors, drone imagery, and farmer records — into a single interface for managing soil health. The system connects with labs and ag‑tech tools, provides recommendations for regenerative practices such as no‑till and cover cropping tailored by geography, crop and soil type, and a mobile app is forthcoming. Founder Mitchell Hora, a seventh‑generation farmer, launched the company in 2015 as a Haney soil‑test consulting business and evolved it into a data‑management startup based in Washington, Iowa. Continuum Ag reports about 1,100 farmers on the platform, serves customers in 36 U.S. states and in 13 other countries, and also works with local agronomists, Fortune‑2000 enterprises, and nonprofits. On Hora’s family farm, TopSoil helped decrease synthetic fertilizer use by 45% and pesticide use by 75% while maintaining record yields. The company is integrating with carbon markets and other sustainability initiatives to open potential new revenue streams for farmers.