The Rise of a New Industry Giant
In the world of biotech and venture capital, few companies have made waves like Zymergen. The five-year-old company has just closed on an impressive $400 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund, one of its earlier investors. This significant investment brings Zymergen’s total funding to over $600 million, making it one of the most well-funded biotech companies in the industry.
A 301,000-Square-Foot Campus and a Growing Team
Zymergen’s Emeryville, California campus is a testament to its rapid growth. Spanning over 301,000 square feet, the facility houses an impressive team of over 600 employees who work tirelessly to engineer yeast and bacterial strains for various industries. From pharmaceuticals to food and agriculture, specialty chemicals, and electronics, Zymergen’s expertise is in high demand.
Unlocking the Power of Biology
Zymergen’s CEO, Joshua Hoffman, explains that their goal is to harness the power of biology to create innovative products and manufacturing processes. By leveraging advanced computing and machine learning algorithms, they are able to identify novel biological pathways and engineer microbes to produce desired molecules more efficiently.
From Antibiotics to Flexible OLEDs
Zymergen’s capabilities extend far beyond traditional pharmaceutical applications. They have worked with customers to develop new products such as flexible OLED screens used in Apple devices. Hoffman notes that current petrochemical-derived films are limited by their chemistry, which can lead to issues like color accuracy and durability. By leveraging biology, Zymergen is able to create more versatile and efficient materials.
Untethering from Traditional Manufacturing
Hoffman believes that the biggest opportunity for Zymergen lies in producing entirely new products that are untethered from traditional petroleum-based manufacturing. This could revolutionize industries ranging from textiles to consumer electronics.
Partnerships with Fortune 50-500 Companies
While Zymergen’s customers remain anonymous, Hoffman hints that their partners have sold over half a billion dollars worth of products made using their technology in the past couple of years. The company’s business model involves charging a subscription fee and a share of the value created by their biological products.
A Competitive Landscape
Zymergen is not alone in the biotech space, with Ginkgo Bioworks being a notable competitor. However, Hoffman believes that Zymergen’s differentiated approach to biology and its commercial traction have enabled it to raise such a significant amount of funding.
Topics: Biotech & Health, DCVC, Softbank Vision Fund, True Ventures, Venture, Zymergen
Biotech & Health
- Zymergen’s innovative use of biology to create novel products
- The company’s partnerships with Fortune 50-500 companies
DCVC, Softbank Vision Fund, True Ventures, Venture, Zymergen
- The significant funding raised by Zymergen in its Series C round
- The growing interest in biotech and venture investments