NEW TECH FOODS

Differential Bio, a Munich-based biotechnology start-up, has emerged from stealth mode with the announcement of a €2 million pre-seed funding round aimed at transforming the biomanufacturing landscape.

The funding will support the development of its Virtual Scale-up Platform, designed to enhance the efficiency and scalability of bioprocesses in the biotechnology sector.

The funding round was led by Ananda Impact Ventures and ReGen Ventures, with participation from Carbon13, Climate Capital, Better Ventures, CDTM Ventures, and a notable group of angel investors.

This financial backing is crucial for Differential Bio as it seeks to address significant challenges in biomanufacturing, particularly the slow and costly process of scaling from laboratory to industrial production.

Biomanufacturing is increasingly seen as a viable solution to modern agricultural and production challenges, particularly in light of recent global disruptions such as supply chain volatility and regulatory changes.

Christian Spier, CEO and co-founder of Differential Bio, highlighted the urgency of developing sustainable alternatives: “The average time to develop novel bioproducts can take 5-10 years and cost between $100 million to $500 million. Our goal is to empower biomanufacturers with tools that significantly reduce these timelines and costs.”

The start-up's Virtual Scale-up Platform integrates advanced microbiology, lab automation and artificial intelligence to streamline bioprocesses, thereby eliminating critical bottlenecks that have historically hindered the industry.

Differential Bio’s platform combines three key innovations:

• Advanced microbiology: Miniaturises fermentation processes to enhance efficiency.

• Robotics: Automates laboratory workflows, generating high-quality data while minimising human error.

• AI algorithms: Simulates and optimises bioprocesses, reducing the need for extensive physical experimentation.

These innovations aim to expedite optimisation cycles, drive down costs and improve profitability through higher yields and enhanced process efficiency.

With the new funding, Differential Bio plans to expand its platform capabilities, enhance its automated lab systems, and recruit top talent in bioinformatics and bioprocess engineering.

The company aims to establish partnerships with clients across various sectors, including food and beverage, cosmetics and speciality chemicals, to help them optimise their bioprocesses and bring sustainable products to market more rapidly.

The biomanufacturing sector is poised for significant growth, with experts estimating that up to 60% of physical inputs in various industries could be produced biologically in the coming decades.