Biosyntia

Biosyntia is a Danish industrial biotechnology firm at the forefront of producing natural active ingredients through precision fermentation. Founded in 2012 as a spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark by Andreas Laustsen, Morten Sommer, and Hans Genee, the company emerged from a shared vision to shift chemical production from petrochemical-based synthesis to more sustainable, bio-based processes. The founders, particularly Hans Genee with his doctoral and postdoctoral training at the NNF Center for Biosustainability and research stints at Harvard and UC Berkeley, brought deep expertise in biotechnology and synthetic biology to the venture.

The company's core technology, Biosynthetic Selections™, is a proprietary platform that accelerates the development of biocatalysts, or cell factories. This system links the growth of microorganisms directly to their productivity of a specific chemical compound, allowing the company to test millions of engineered microbial strains weekly. This high-throughput screening capability significantly reduces the cost and time associated with developing efficient fermentation processes compared to traditional methods. By engineering microbes like E. coli and yeast, Biosyntia creates tailored processes to produce complex chemicals, aiming to make bio-based production cost-competitive with chemical synthesis.

Biosyntia's business model is centered on developing and commercializing a pipeline of high-value active ingredients for the nutraceutical, personal care, food, and animal nutrition markets. Its first commercial product is BIO-B7™, a bio-based biotin (Vitamin B7) produced via fermentation of renewable raw materials like sugar beet carbohydrates. This offers a sustainable alternative to the chemically synthesized vitamins that currently dominate the market. The company operates through a value-sharing partnership model rather than fee-for-service research, collaborating with industry leaders like Givaudan and WACKER to develop and scale manufacturing processes. This strategy allows Biosyntia to leverage its core technology across a portfolio of products, including B-vitamins, antioxidants, and isoflavonoids, creating synergies that lower development risk and cost.

Since its inception, Biosyntia has secured significant funding to advance its technology and bring products to market. The company has raised a total of $23.4M over eight rounds, including a €11.5 million Series B round in July 2022. This round was led by the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) with participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners and Novo Seeds, the early-stage investment arm of Novo Holdings. This capital is being used to enter the production phase for its ingredients and expand its product pipeline, positioning the company as a key player in the transition to a circular bioeconomy.

Keywords: precision fermentation, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, biocatalysts, cell factory development, natural ingredients, nutraceuticals, bio-based chemicals, sustainable manufacturing, vitamin production, biotin, BIO-B7, active ingredients, high-throughput screening, microbial engineering, Givaudan partnership, fine chemicals, food additives, cosmetic ingredients, bioactives, industrial biotechnology, fermentation optimization