Participated · Equity · Jul 2019

Agrivida develops feed additives for poultry, swine, dairy and beef cattle and aquaculture, using plants as the core manufacturing and delivery system. Its GRAINZYME® Phytase technology expresses enzymes and proteins via plant-based production. The company is led by President and CEO Dan Meagher and is based in the Village of Four Seasons, Missouri. Agrivida plans to use new financing to expand its research and development platform. Management also intends to advance commercialization of GRAINZYME® Phytase into global poultry and swine markets. The article does not disclose revenue or other operating metrics. Agrivida is a Saint Louis-based agritech company focused on animal nutrition. It develops Grainzyme feed additive enzymes, including a Grainzyme Phytase technology that uses protein expression and storage in grain to simplify enzyme production. The company has been granted 33 patents and has more than 85 patents pending. Agrivida plans to commercialize its Grainzyme enzymes for use with poultry and swine and to advance regulatory and product development programs for dairy and beef cattle. Founded in 2004 by CEO Dan Meagher, the company has progressed through multiple development stages. In August 2016 it completed an initial close of a Series E financing to fund commercialization and development work. Agrivida is a Medford, Mass.-based animal nutrition company led by CEO Dan Meagher. The company develops integrated enzyme solutions, including its proprietary GraINzyme® feed additive enzymes and the INergy™ silage technology platform. Agrivida has entered into research and development agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA–E, the USDA and other partner companies. It completed a $23M Series D financing to fund its next phase of growth. The company intends to use the funds to advance development and commercialization of GraINzyme® and INergy™, expand its capabilities and leadership team, advance regulatory and product development, and pursue strategic commercial partnerships. Agrivida develops biotechnologies and proprietary crops intended to transform the economics of producing renewable chemicals, fuels, and bioproducts from non-food cellulosic biomass. Its patented approach engineers feedstocks to contain cell wall–degrading enzymes and other valuable traits that are activated following harvest to provide low-cost sugars essential for industrial bioproducts. The company frames this as an integrated solution to deliver the lowest-cost sugars for industrial processing. Agrivida plans to commercialize its platform through alliances across the bioindustrial product supply chain. It is funded by venture capital firms including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Prairie Gold Ventures, DAG Ventures, Presidio Ventures, NorthGate Capital, and incTank Ventures. Its programs are supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy (including an ARPA-E grant), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The company announced a $15 million Series C in September 2012.