• BioConsortia

  Led · Equity · Apr 2024

  BioConsortia discovers, designs and licenses advanced microbial products aimed at reducing agriculture's ecological impacts while sustaining crop productivity. Its pipeline includes nitrogen-fixation microbes to replace or reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilizers; nutrient use-efficiency products and biostimulants to increase crop yields; bionematicides and biofungicides to protect crops from pests and diseases; and post-harvest pathogen control solutions. The company is led by CEO Marcus Meadows-Smith and is based in Davis, CA. It intends to use proceeds from the financing to develop microbial products that increase yields by fixing nitrogen or controlling nematode, fungal and soil insect pests, and to expand its intellectual property estate. The funds will also support broadened field trial programs in key agricultural regions around the world, enlargement of the Davis lab to accommodate a growing microbial gene-editing team, and upgrades to fermentation and formulation capabilities at headquarters. Several of its biofungicide, bionematicide, postharvest decay control and nitrogen-fixing products are approaching commercialization beginning in 2024. BioConsortia develops microbial consortia and a proprietary Advanced Microbial Selection (AMS) discovery platform to enhance plant phenotypes and increase crop yields. Its products target fertilizer use efficiency, growth improvement, abiotic tolerance and biotic resistance across seed treatments, liquid in-furrow, and granule formats. The company is commercializing leads for corn, wheat, soy, tomatoes and leafy vegetables and has advanced several treatments through multi-year field trials and repeat trials with industry partners. Recent internal investments include building fermentation and formulation capabilities at its Davis, Calif. headquarters and hiring specialists in microbiome ecology and computational biology. BioConsortia is expanding its AMS platform with deeper analytics, genomics, microbiome and machine-learning tools to improve selection and consistency of microbial products. The company also noted the addition of a sixth U.S. patent as it moves toward product launch. BioConsortia develops microbial consortia-based products to improve plant phenotypes, fertilizer use efficiency, growth, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stress using its proprietary Advanced Microbial Selection® (AMS) process. The company focuses on commercial seed treatments, liquid in-furrow products and granules across a range of crops. It is expanding work into biopesticide projects targeting seed- and soil-borne diseases and pests. BioConsortia has been growing its formulation and fermentation team and is constructing new lab space at its R&D facilities. The company plans expanded field trials in 2017 for drought tolerance and fertilizer-use-efficiency on corn, soy and wheat, plus biopesticide trials for high-value vegetables and corn rootworm. Financially, it secured funding this year to accelerate research and trials and maintain program expansion. BioConsortia is an agricultural biotechnology company that uses a proprietary system combining accelerated microbial selection and genomic techniques to define optimal microbial consortia for crop improvement. Its platform rapidly identifies consortia that can increase yields with no genetic modification and applies to both conventional and transgenic crops. The company has pipeline products and research projects targeting enhanced utilization and substitution of N, P, K and S fertilizers, plant growth improvements (including harvestable yield and root mass), abiotic tolerance, biotic resistance, and enhanced metabolite expression. BioConsortia plans to commercialize microbial consortia as seed treatments and soil additives and to partner with seed, fertilizer, crop protection and plant-breeding companies. It recently raised an additional $15 million in a Series B and will use the funds to accelerate commercialization and build collaborative partnerships. The financing coincides with the appointment of Marcus Meadows-Smith as CEO.

• NewLeaf Symbiotics

  Participated · Series D · Dec 2023

  NewLeaf Symbiotics develops products based on pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) that are naturally symbiotic with plants. Led by CEO Brent Smith, the company focuses on discovery, development, production and commercialization of microbe-based biostimulants and related technologies. It has filed more than 200 patents and patent applications and has introduced its first biostimulant products in the U.S. for corn and soy. NewLeaf plans a 2024 rollout that includes an EPA‑registered biopesticide technology shown to repel corn rootworm, new biostimulant technologies for peanut and cotton, and continued R&D around rice yield, nitrogen efficiency and methane reduction impact. The company intends to use new funding to accelerate work on PPFM technology and adjacent areas including microbial inoculants, biocontrol, nitrogen use efficiency and methane mitigation. NewLeaf is based in St. Louis, MO. NewLeaf Symbiotics is a venture-funded agricultural biologicals company engaged in discovery, development, production, and commercialization of products containing beneficial plant bacteria, with a focus on methylotrophic bacteria. The company leverages a proprietary biologicals platform and is expanding its Prescriptive Biologics Knowledgebase™ bioinformatics platform. NewLeaf is developing seed treatment and in-furrow products for soybeans, corn, wheat, peanuts, and other crops. It recently completed the second close to complete a $30MM Series C financing, which the company says was oversubscribed. Proceeds will be used to commercialize products and to triple the square footage of its R&D and pilot production facility in St. Louis. The company has a 30+ member team based in BRDG Park at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO. NewLeaf Symbiotics is a St. Louis, Missouri–based agricultural bio company focused on commercialization of beneficial plant bacteria. Led by CEO Tom Laurita, the company develops biological products derived from plant-associated bacteria. It acquired Intuitive Genomics, a bioinformatics solutions provider, in 2013. NewLeaf intends to use new funding to accelerate R&D, ramp production from pilot to commercial scale, and bring its first biological products to market. The company expects initial product sales in 2015. Financially, it previously closed a $7m Series A in January 2013. NewLeaf Symbiotics is a development-stage agricultural biotechnology company commercializing a family of beneficial bacteria known as PPFMs (Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs). PPFMs are described as ubiquitous in nature and, when applied to plants, supply essential nutrients, improve plant health, promote early growth and increase crop yield. The company positions use of these symbiotic microorganisms as a way to reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and support more profitable, sustainable farming. NewLeaf operates out of the Bio-Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis and was formerly known as TrophoMax LLC. Following its financing, NewLeaf plans to expand field trials across multiple market segments, advance product formulation efforts and expand its portfolio of intellectual property. Investors in the round cited the company’s strong IP and experienced management team in supporting its commercialization strategy.

• Botanical Solutions

  Led · Series A · Aug 2023

  Botanical Solution (BSI) uses a proprietary tissue-culture R&D platform to produce Advanced Botanical Materials (ABM), including ABM-01 derived from Quillaja saponaria. Its core product focus is pharmaceutical-grade QS-21, a vaccine adjuvant used in FDA-approved vaccines for shingles and RSV, and a biopesticide product branded Quillibrium®. BSI’s lab-based cultivation method is designed to be more sustainable and cost-effective than extracting QS-21 from tree bark, avoiding deforestation and ensuring steady supply. The company plans to commence in-house GMP production of QS-21 and expand its R&D labs in Davis, California to support quality and scale. BSI has announced a key partnership with Croda Pharma around the QS-21 adjuvant and expects larger production to open additional opportunities for vaccine developers. The company is incorporated in Delaware and is targeting both human pharmaceutical and agricultural markets. The Series A financing now totals $23.3 million, which the company says will fund production scale-up and R&D expansion. BSI positions itself to benefit from a large botanical ingredients market projected in the article. Botanical Solution Inc. is a Delaware corporation with a proprietary platform for sustainable, consistent production of Advanced Botanical Materials (ABM). ABM‑01, derived from Quillaja saponaria, is the company's first product and is the active ingredient in its Quillibrium® biopesticide and the vaccine adjuvant QS‑21 used in shingles, RSV, and malaria vaccines. The company has established commercial and development partnerships—including Syngenta since 2019 and a recent collaboration with Croda—to scale agricultural adoption and GMP production of pharma‑spec QS‑21. The Syngenta partnership has produced over 50% year‑over‑year growth in effective growers' adoption and has treated over 100,000 acres to date. Botanical Solution recently secured an additional $7 million, bringing its Series A funding to more than $13 million, to build a sustainable supply chain for QS‑21 and expand agricultural rollouts. BSI is on track to begin delivering GMP materials for human vaccine development later in the year. Botanical Solution (BSI) develops sustainable, consistent Advanced Botanical Materials (ABM) derived from tissue-cultured Quillaja saponaria for agricultural and pharmaceutical uses. Its first ABM product, ABM-01, is the active ingredient in the biopesticide Quillibrium® and in the gold-standard vaccine adjuvant QS-21. BSI markets agricultural products including BotriStop® and Quillibrium®, which has been used across Chile, launched in Peru, and is set to reach Mexican growers via distribution partner Syngenta. The company is progressing regulatory registration in the U.S. and additional countries to expand its global footprint. New funding will support geographic expansion, commercialization scale-up, market readiness of additional biopesticide products in late development, and expansion of BSI’s R&D pipeline. For pharmaceuticals, the financing will increase cultivated Quillaja saponaria supply to sustainably produce billions of doses of pharmaceutical-grade QS-21 and position BSI as a major supplier. Botanical Solution Inc. (BSI) is a Davis, California–based Delaware corporation that develops sustainable, highly consistent and cost‑effective advanced botanical materials using a proprietary biotechnology platform. Its first commercial product is BotriStop®, a biofungicide derived from Quillaja saponaria, sold initially in Chile through distribution partner Syngenta. BSI's platform enables in‑lab growth of Quillaja saponaria and aims to eliminate supply and quality barriers that have prevented traditional botanicals from becoming commercially successful. The company also plans to produce pharmaceutical‑grade QS‑21 adjuvant at scale—claiming capacity to supply billions of doses without harming trees—to address shortages affecting Covid‑19 and other vaccines. BSI raised $3.3 million in a seed round to support BotriStop production and sales growth in Chile and expects regulatory progress and registrations in key Latin American markets, the U.S., and the E.U. during 2021. The company is planning a second round of funding in Spring 2021 to further boost discovery, development and commercialization of its botanical products.

• GLMX

  Participated · Equity · Jan 2018

  GLMX has developed proprietary technology offering an integrated global money market trading solution, including an RFQ-based buy-side-to-dealer trading platform for repo and secured lending. The system is designed to enhance buy-side/sell-side relationships and address the need for efficient repo trading infrastructure amid increasing regulatory reporting requirements. Founded in 2010 by Glenn Havlicek, the company serves institutional participants and operates offices in NYC, Palo Alto and London. GLMX recently raised $20M in growth equity financing. The company plans to use the funds to expand operations into major European markets and to grow its engineering team. The core product targets institutional money-market trading workflows and regulatory-driven infrastructure needs.

• Green & Grow

  Led · Series B · Aug 2014

  Green & Grow is developing and commercializing Agriplier™, a biologically derived, non-living microbe by-product platform intended to improve crop performance through specific metabolites and stimulants. Agriplier™ products can be integrated into multiple seed treatment processes and used as a soil amendment. As a non-living product, Agriplier™ can be added alongside existing chemical and living biological products. The company is led by President and CEO Alan Sobba and is based in Austin, Texas. It is currently mid-way through work with industry partners, distributors and end-users to bring the technology to market. Green & Grow intends to use recent funds to accelerate commercialization of Agriplier™.

No current team members are available.