• ZeaKal

  Led · Series A · Mar 2013

  ZeaKal is a San-Diego biotech that modifies genetic crop traits to increase intrinsic photosynthetic capacity through its PhotoSeed technology. PhotoSeed is claimed to allow plants to harvest more sunlight and fix more carbon dioxide, improving seed and grain yield while increasing oil and protein content. The company has multi-year field trials across a range of crops demonstrating success and a joint collaboration with Corteva to develop and test PhotoSeed. ZeaKal plans to use the new funding to widen its commercial focus and roll out the technology across multiple crops, including soy, perennial ryegrass, and rice, and there is specific interest in translating the trait to cannabis and hemp to boost oil and cannabinoid production. The company recently hired long-time DuPont/Corteva executive Paul Schickler to drive strategy and partnerships, a placement facilitated by lead investor Finistere. Financially, ZeaKal closed an oversubscribed $15 million Series C that includes a $10 million strategic investment from Canopy Rivers, with participation from Finistere Ventures and Middleland Capital. ZeaKal is a San Diego, California biotech company focused on developing PhotoSeed™, a biotechnology platform that increases photosynthetic capacity and stress tolerance of major crops. Led by CEO Han Chen with newly added COO Dr. Amy Curran, the company aims to improve agricultural productivity without relying on pest and weed management chemistries. It plans to use the recent funding to expand its PhotoSeed product development pipeline and to bring its lead soybean product into field trials in May. The company was incubated within Kapyon Ventures. ZeaKal also acquired Algenetix, an industrial biotechnology firm developing renewable materials and energies from plant-based sources, for an undisclosed sum. As of the Series B, the company has raised $9.1M in total funding to date. ZeaKal develops an HME technology platform aimed at increasing crop yield and oil content. The company’s HME technology has demonstrated yield increases up to 50% and oil-content increases up to 34% across multiple crops. ZeaKal plans to deploy and further develop the HME platform across major crops, including soybeans and rice. Development work will be conducted in partnership with the University of Missouri at the laboratories of Dr. Henry Nguyen and Dr. Zhanyuan Zhang. The company is led by CEO Han Chen and has shown early, measurable agronomic impacts that could affect demand for biomass across food, feed and fuels. ZeaKal recently completed a Series A financing to fund continued development.

No current team members are available.