Fermeate has raised $2.0M in seed funding to bring optogenetics to industrial fermentation. The round was led by Newfund, with participation from SOSV, Ajinomoto Group Ventures, and Ki Tua Fund.
The company uses photomolecular gene circuits to give biomanufacturers software-like control over microbial production, switching genes on and off quickly to improve fermentation titer, rate, and yield. Fermeate says the approach can make sustainable bio-based products more cost-competitive. The startup is backed by IndieBio and SOSV, and has also received support from DARPA, Blueprint The Engine, and NSF I-Corps Hub Northeast Region.
