Topics
in vogue
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Steve Jurvetson(opens in a new window)/Flickr(opens in a new window)under aPublic Domain(opens in a new window)license.
Apps
Biotech & Health
mood
Image Credits:Steve Jurvetson(opens in a new window)/Flickr(opens in a new window)under aPublic Domain(opens in a new window)license.
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Rios pictured with a photobioreactor in the background.Image Credits:Deep Blue Biotech
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
fundraise
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
computer hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
protection
Social
blank
startup
TikTok
Transportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
picture
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
reach Us
Decarbonizing our economies in the backwash to fight climate change demands a wholesale overhauling of all sorts of production process to make them as sustainable as potential . Greening chemical substance , which are used as ingredient in all form of merchandise , is where U.K. startupDeep Blue BioTechis putting its vim .
The biotech startup founded in May 2023 is build a commercial enterprise around a photosynthesis - based form of biomanufacturing that will enable it to manufacture chemicals in a more environmentally well-disposed way than schematic production method acting , such as refine fossil fuels .
The inauguration also claims its method acting can accomplish cost parity with conventional chemical product since the genetically engineered microorganism it ’s using to grow the chemicals only want feeding with comparatively meretricious ingredients : light , body of water , and CO2 .
It order this contrasts favorably with precision unrest , another bug - ground production method that requires more dear feedstock ( such as sugar ) , too .
Cyanobacteria
Deep Blue BioTech is working with a strain of cyanobacteria — also acknowledge as gamy - green algae ( but note these single - celled microorganisms are actuallyprokaryotes , rather than alga ) — using genetic applied science and computational modeling to change by reversal bacterium that is sometimes colloquially known as “ pool scum ” into microscopical production factories for green chemicals .
The startup says its method acting is “ last - prescribed ” in term of carbon copy emissions , meaning the process removes more CO2than it bring forth , since cyanobacteria eat the greenhouse natural gas during photosynthesis .
It also take its bioengineering approaching think it can produce more efficacious chemical substance . It wants to improve on earlier industry attempts to explicate more sustainable ( chemical substance ) fixings that often led to less - effective merchandise , making for a tough sell to consumer .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
These are “ green chemical substance ” that will surrender on both sustainability and performance , is Deep Blue BioTech ’s delivery .
“ The first generation of greenish chemical substance , regrettably , they just suck up , ” Colorado - laminitis Manuel Rios , a former VP of sustainable design at Unilever , tells TechCrunch . “ They were just more expensive and less efficacious , and we need to counteract that effect that happened in the last 10 years . ”
“ What we start to see with synthetical biology , in general , is because of how we produce and project the molecules , you may actually go and shoot for for functionality — which is something that we were not able to do in the past , ” he also tell us .
“ So we create that new generation of sustainable materials , new generation of green chemicals , that are environmentally witting — but mainly they are higher-ranking in functionality . That is what we want to create . ”
Cost-effective ingredients
The cost of producing the chemicals can be another fundamental selling point , depending on the diligence vertical it ’s targeting , per Rios . The inauguration is using computational modeling to decide which chemicals are monetary value - in effect to target the novel yield method acting at .
“ We have take chemical substance that are northerly of $ 2,000-$3,000 per kilo , which countenance us to have healthy margins while still render a rebate versus the incumbent technology , ” he suggests .
Deep Blue BioTech is set out with a sales pitch aimed at beauty and cosmetics companies . Rios say the textile industry will likely follow — where it would be pitching wearing apparel - manufacturer on more environmentally favorable fabric dyes .
The first content it ’s producing is hyaluronic pane , an element in various skincare products and cosmetic treatments that can also have medical habit .
“ We ’re not going to save the world with cosmetic but … what we ’re try out to do with that industry specifically is we think [ it ] has the ability to modify perception , ” he say , add : “ We believe a partner like the beauty diligence — with high levels of engagements — will admit us [ to be ] more effective . ”
cosmetic also offer a quick route to market compare to some other applications programme it could have focused on .
Rios notes the squad had originally considered produce biofuels — but decide it would take too recollective to translate from laboratory to marketplace . And he stresses they are not bad to have a irrefutable encroachment sooner rather than later .
While there has been interest in photosynthetic biomanufacturing before now — let in for producing biofuels — Rios suggests commercialization has been held back by low production rates . The inauguration reckons it ’s made a find thanks to the enjoyment of a relatively recently discovered high productiveness nisus of cyanobacteria .
“ The main advantage that this strain has is it ’s three time quicker [ raise ] than any other strain of cyanobacteria ever expose and has seven clip more productivity . So that kind of check the barrier in damage of commercialization , ” he suggest .
Pre-seed
It ’s still former days for Deep Blue BioTech , which is announcing an $ 800,000 pre - seed daily round to keep building toward a commercial-grade MVP — a “ small - scale demonstrator ” of production in this linguistic context .
The cycle was moderate by Sustainable Ventures , with participation from One Planet Capital , PCSI , and SFC Capital . It also include twoInnovate UKgrants .
The backing will be used to kick off their first yield pilots , entering into joint development agreements with customer to incorporate Deep Blue BioTech ’s hyaluronic Elvis into their own ware . ( Rio notes they have several missive of intent sign with cosmetics firms it hope will be next customer , including his former employer . )
Additionally , they will use the capital to encounter their 2d component ( probably the aforementioned fabric dye ) .
Part of the financial backing will also be spent on filing a letters patent program , harmonise to Rios , who confirms they intend to take steps to see their approaching is defensible . produce the team to inflate in - household expertise in bioprocess applied science is also on the batting order , he says .
“ We are in the data-based stage because we are doing the scale - up and the inherited technology in parallel , ” he tells us .
“ Every vertical [ we aim ] would have a different commercial-grade strategy , ” he adds . “ But at the end of the day , the scale - up of this technology — first of all , the fact that the downstream processing is so simple — it break a very clear competitory advantage versus any other technology . ”
He also suggests having a “ modular ” production summons is another key component that can support fast scaling . Photobioreactors are used to create the right surround to civilise cyanobacteria . Unlike the stainless - sword vat that are typical of precision fermentation systems , these political machine feature guileless tubes to let in spark , so the light - sensitive micro-organism can feed and grow .
Rios says that adding more subway provide for capacity to easily be scaled up . “ The way the system is interconnected is in batches , ” he say , further noting : “ We are working with [ partners ] that have this capacity . ”
In terms of competitors , he name - checks the French biotechMicrophyt , which has been working with microalgae for many years , and inked a strategic partnership with cosmetics giant L’Oréalback in 2022 , as “ interesting . ” But he suggest their focus is “ slenderly different . ”
Another company he cite that is working with cyanobacteria specifically — and using the same song — is Australia - basedBondi Bio .
“ One of our advantages is , I sleep together what were the right buttons to push in the industry , ” Rios adds , on its positioning in the securities industry . “ So we design a specific hyaluronic acid … that we acknowledge [ would ] have very loyal traction in the market , a low molecular weight hyaluronic Zen with a specific attribute [ of gamy skin insight ] . ”
