Zymergen, founded in 2013 and located in Emeryville, California, is a technology company providing organisms engineering services. Their biotechnology labs rely on advanced manufacturing technologies, machine learning techniques, and genomics to accelerate the design, build, test cycle of microorganisms. Zymergen claims they have the world's largest database of proprietary physical and digital DNA library in the world. The company provides their services to industrial biotechnology customers seeking to improve the cost efficiency of existing strains, or engineer new strains, that manufacture chemicals, food or food additives, and materials using microorganisms.
Partnership, mergers and acquisitions
Radiant Genomics
On January 8, 2018 Zymergen acquired a functional metagenomics research company named Radiant Genomics. With this acquisition Zymergens gets to add the metagenomic technologies and genetic libraries developed by Radiant Genomics to its core platform. Zymergen hopes acquiring Radiant Genomics will help accelerate its ability to identify and create useful organisms and molecules. The CEO of Zymergen had the following to say about the acquisition: "Radiant has built an unparalleled platform and set of libraries to search genetic diversity that will allow us to search for these molecules of interest, extending our ability to produce useful molecules for materials that can transform the world around us."
Funding
Seed round
On January 1, 2014 Zymergen raised $2,000,000 in seed funding from Genoa Ventures (lead investor), Linden Mobile Ventures, Josh Perfetto, Jesse Robbins, Jenny Rooke, and David Beyer.
Series A
On June 16, 2015 Zymergen completed their Series A funding round raising $42,000,000 in funding from Data Collective (lead investor), AME Cloud Ventures, DFJ, Genoa Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, True Ventures, SciFI VC, Obvious Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and Jenny Rooke.
Series B
On October 11, 2016 Zymergen completed their Series B funding round raising $130,000,000 in funding from Soft Bank (lead investor), Two Sigma, Tao Capital Partners, Prelude Ventures, Obvious Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, ICONIQ Capital, Data Collective, DFJ, and AME Cloud Ventures.
Timeline
Zymergen acquires Radiant Genomics
On January 8, 2018 Zymergen acquired a functional metagenomics research company named Radiant Genomics. With this acquisition Zymergens gets to add the metagenomic technologies and genetic libraries developed by Radiant Genomics to it's core platform. Zymergen hopes acquiring Radiant Genomics will help accelerate it's ability to identify and create useful organisms and molecules. The CEO of Zymergen had the following to say about the acquisition of radiant genomics "Radiant has built an unparalleled platform and set of libraries to search genetic diversity that will allow us to search for these molecules of interest, extending our ability to produce useful molecules for materials that can transform the world around us."
Zymergen completes $130 million dollar Series B funding round.
On October 11, 2016 Zymergen completed their Series B funding round raising $130,000,000 in funding from Soft Bank (lead investor), Two Sigma, Tao Capital Partners, Prelude Ventures, Obvious Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, ICONIQ Capital, Data Collective, DFJ, and AME Cloud Ventures.
Zymergen completes $42 million dollar Series A funding round.
On June 16, 2015 Zymergen completed their Series A funding round raising $42,000,000 in funding from Data Collective (lead investor), AME Cloud Ventures, DFJ, Genoa Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, True Ventures, SciFI VC, Obvious Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and Jenny Rooke.
Zymergen completes $2 million dollar seed funding round.
On January 1, 2014 Zymergen raised $2,000,000 in seed funding from Genoa Ventures (lead investor), Linden Mobile Ventures, Josh Perfetto, Jesse Robbins, Jenny Rooke, and David Beyer.
Founding of Zymergen
Zymergen, founded in 2013 and located in Emeryville, California, is a technology company providing organisms engineering services.
People
Aaron Kimball
Employee
Andy Warner
Investor
AngelList Enterprise Fund Manager
Investor
Anna Osterlind
Employee
Ashleigh Korwatch
Employee
Brad Gallagher
Employee
Brock Siegel
Investor
Cok Mudde
Investor
David Beyer
Investor
David McClary
Investor
David St Clair
Advisor
Dmitriy Ryaboy
Employee
Douglas Onsi
Investor
Eric Anschutz
Investor
Euan Guttridge
Investor
Farzad Brian Samimi
Investor
Frazana Sattar
Employee
Jeff Huber
Investor
Jenny Rooke
Investor
Jerel Davis
Investor
Jeremy LaTrasse
Investor
Jesse Robbins
Investor
John Eaton
Investor
John Levisay
Investor
Further reading
Bay-Area biotech startup Zymergen opens Seattle office, signaling big growth plans in the city
Clare McGrane
News article
SoftBank Wants to Build the Future. Here Are Some New Bets It Could Make.
Michael J. de la Merced
News article
What You Need to Know About Zymergen | BioSpace
Mark Terry
Web article
Zymergen Acquires Metagenomics Company Radiant Genomics
Business Wire
News article
Documentaries, videos and podcasts
Designing a Million Genomes: Machine Learning, Automation and Biotech
October 7, 2015
Joshua Hoffman - CEO, Zymergen | Near Future Summit
November 15, 2016
KPMGVoice: Zymergen - The Great Rewrite | Forbes
May 4, 2017
Zymergen: Unlocking the Power of Biology through Technology - Zach Serber at impact.tech at GoogleSF
August 13, 2016
Companies