All the fundraising deals in the synthetic biology market (from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026)
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The synthetic biology market recorded 52 funding rounds worth about $1.61 billion between Q2 2025 and Q2 2026.
Funding reached its highest level in Q2 2026, but NewLimit accounted for most of the quarter’s total.
Synthetic biology therapeutics attracted the most capital, while food and ingredient companies completed the most deals.
And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the synthetic biology market.
Insights
- The synthetic biology market raised about $1.61 billion across 52 deals, but the ten largest rounds captured 70.5% of all disclosed funding.
- Q2 2026 was the largest quarter at $501.5 million, although NewLimit’s $435 million round represented 86.7% of the quarter.
- Without NewLimit, synthetic biology funding in Q2 2026 would have fallen to $66.5 million, below every other quarter in the period.
- Synthetic biology therapeutics received $874.4 million, equal to 54.5% of total funding from only eight deals.
- Food and ingredient companies completed 13 rounds, the highest deal count of any category, but raised only 12.0% of total capital.
- Q4 2025 was the broadest quarter, with 16 deals covering therapeutics, food, materials, agriculture, software and research tools.
- The average synthetic biology funding round was $30.88 million, but this figure was heavily lifted by a small number of very large investments.
- Tools and biofoundry infrastructure raised $188.3 million, showing continued investor demand for platforms that can serve several biological markets.
- Only one disclosed investor, SOSV, appeared in more than one qualifying round, which reflects the large number of incomplete investor announcements.
- Most smaller synthetic biology startups raised capital for pilot production, technical validation, regulatory preparation or their first commercial deployments.
This market map, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, highlights top companies and startups in the synthetic biology market
Summary table of the funding deals in the synthetic biology market (last 5 quarters)
We define the synthetic biology market as the set of tools, platforms, and products that rely on engineering biological systems using designed DNA, genetic circuits, or engineered organisms.
We include specialized synbio tools and software, biofoundry and automation platforms, and end-use applications in areas like food, agriculture, health, chemicals, and materials where synthetic biology is a core part of how the product is created or performs.
We exclude conventional biotech and pharmaceuticals, basic GMOs, and traditional fermentation or bio-based products where modern synthetic biology methods are not central to the design or production process.
You can also read our detailed analysis to understand how funding activity in the synthetic biology market has evolved over the last few years.
Also, you should know that we have a dedicated page, updated weekly, with all the latest fundraising deals in the synthetic biology market.
| Name | What they do | Amount in $ | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stylus Medicine | Engineers recombinases and delivery systems for precision genetic medicines. | $85M | Q2 2025 |
| Antheia | Engineers yeast to manufacture complex pharmaceutical ingredients. | $56M | Q2 2025 |
| Grove Biopharma | Designs synthetic protein-like biologics for difficult intracellular disease targets. | $30M | Q2 2025 |
| Synthetic Design Lab | Engineers targeted proteins for next-generation antibody-drug conjugates. | $20M | Q2 2025 |
| INTAKE | Uses engineered yeast to produce alternative meat, dairy and egg proteins. | $9.2M | Q2 2025 |
| Trilobio | Builds modular robotic systems that automate biology experiments. | $8M | Q2 2025 |
| Solena Materials | Engineers microbes and proteins to produce high-performance textile fibres. | $6.7M | Q2 2025 |
| PFx Biotech | Produces lactoferrin and human-milk proteins through precision fermentation. | $2.86M | Q2 2025 |
| Strand Therapeutics | Designs programmable mRNA circuits that activate therapeutic payloads inside target cells. | $153M | Q3 2025 |
| Fermelanta | Engineers microbes to produce difficult-to-source plant metabolites. | $13.6M | Q3 2025 |
| AmphiStar | Converts industrial side streams into biosurfactants using engineered microorganisms. | $11.7M | Q3 2025 |
| Provectus Algae | Programs algae to manufacture feed ingredients and methane-reduction products. | $10.1M | Q3 2025 |
| NetZeroNitrogen | Engineers nitrogen-fixing bacteria that reduce fertilizer use in farming. | $6.6M | Q3 2025 |
| Scindo | Uses AI and enzyme design to develop biological catalysts. | $5.4M | Q3 2025 |
| Profluent | Builds AI models that generate proteins, genome editors, antibodies and enzymes. | $106M | Q4 2025 |
| Azalea Therapeutics | Programs therapeutic cells directly inside the human body. | $82M | Q4 2025 |
| The EVERY Company | Produces functional egg proteins through precision fermentation. | $55M | Q4 2025 |
| Ansa Biotechnologies | Produces long DNA sequences through enzymatic synthesis. | $54.4M | Q4 2025 |
| Galatek | Develops autonomous systems for life-science experiments. | $30M | Q4 2025 |
| Biocentis | Develops programmable genetic systems that control harmful insect populations. | $19M | Q4 2025 |
| Mosa Meat | Produces cultivated beef using engineered bovine cells. | $17.6M | Q4 2025 |
| Aether Biomachines | Uses AI-designed proteins for industrial products and environmental materials. | $15M | Q4 2025 |
| Melt&Marble | Programs microbes to make tailored fats for food and personal care. | $8.5M | Q4 2025 |
| Nutropy | Produces animal-free casein for cheese through precision fermentation. | $8.1M | Q4 2025 |
| Number 8 Bio | Develops biological feed additives that reduce livestock methane emissions. | $7.18M | Q4 2025 |
| All G | Produces dairy proteins through precision fermentation for Asia-Pacific markets. | $6.6M | Q4 2025 |
| Erg Bio | Converts waste biomass into chemical and fuel intermediates. | $6.5M | Q4 2025 |
| Asterix Foods | Uses plant-cell culture to manufacture bioactive food proteins. | $4.2M | Q4 2025 |
| Immobazyme | Manufactures enzymes, growth factors and biotechnology ingredients. | $1.45M | Q4 2025 |
| Cellarim Labs | Develops cell-free manufacturing for beauty and personal-care ingredients. | $0.72M | Q4 2025 |
| Think Bioscience | Combines synthetic biology and chemistry to discover new medicines. | $55M | Q1 2026 |
| bit.bio | Programs human cells into consistent off-the-shelf cell types. | $50M | Q1 2026 |
| Verley | Produces whey and dairy proteins through precision fermentation. | $30M | Q1 2026 |
| Standing Ovation | Produces animal-free casein for cheese manufacturers. | $28.5M | Q1 2026 |
| Antheia | Uses engineered yeast to manufacture scarce pharmaceutical ingredients. | $24M | Q1 2026 |
| Scala Biodesign | Uses AI to design biologics, enzymes, antibodies and vaccines. | $16M | Q1 2026 |
| Cauldron Ferm | Builds continuous fermentation infrastructure for industrial biomanufacturing. | $13.25M | Q1 2026 |
| Epoch Biodesign | Designs enzymes that recycle difficult plastics and textiles. | $12M | Q1 2026 |
| Biographica | Uses AI to identify gene-editing targets for improved crops. | $9.5M | Q1 2026 |
| baCta | Programs microbial factories to produce industrial ingredients. | $7.6M | Q1 2026 |
| Rubi | Uses cell-free enzymes to convert carbon dioxide into materials. | $7.5M | Q1 2026 |
| Octarine Bio | Engineers microorganisms to produce natural pigments. | $5.8M | Q1 2026 |
| Twogee Biotech | Engineers enzymes and microbes that convert biomass into raw materials. | $2.35M | Q1 2026 |
| Anzen Industries | Develops modular cell-free enzyme reactors for chemical production. | $2.2M | Q1 2026 |
| NewLimit | Reprograms cells toward younger states using designed transcription factors. | $435M | Q2 2026 |
| Pumpkinseed | Develops single-molecule protein sequencing technology. | $20M | Q2 2026 |
| Syntax Bio | Programs stem-cell development using computationally designed gene circuits. | $14.4M | Q2 2026 |
| StrainX Bioworks | Produces nutritional, flavor and specialty ingredients through precision fermentation. | $13M | Q2 2026 |
| Portal Biotechnologies | Provides non-viral tools for cell engineering and therapy manufacturing. | $9M | Q2 2026 |
| Clean Food Group | Manufactures yeast-derived oils and fats through precision fermentation. | $6.1M | Q2 2026 |
| Melazyme | Uses engineered microorganisms to produce melanin and sweet proteins. | $2M | Q2 2026 |
| Fermeate | Uses light to control microbial gene expression during fermentation. | $2M | Q2 2026 |
In our synthetic biology market deck, we identify pain points entrepreneurs should prioritize
How has funding activity in the synthetic biology market changed over time?
Q2 2026 raised the most capital at $501.5 million, but NewLimit’s $435 million round created almost all of the increase.
Q2 2025 had the lowest total at $217.76 million, although the quarter still included eight funding deals.
Synthetic biology funding increased by 90.2% from Q1 2026 to Q2 2026 and increased by 130.3% compared with Q2 2025.
Without the largest deals, the synthetic biology funding trend looks much flatter and weaker. Q4 2025 had the broadest activity, while Q2 2026 would have been the smallest quarter without NewLimit.
| Quarter | Number of deals | Total raised ($) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | 8 | $217.76M | Stylus Medicine and Antheia represented most of the quarter’s synthetic biology funding. |
| Q3 2025 | 6 | $200.40M | Strand Therapeutics accounted for more than three quarters of the quarter’s funding. |
| Q4 2025 | 16 | $422.25M | This was the most active quarter and included a wide mix of synthetic biology applications. |
| Q1 2026 | 14 | $263.70M | Funding was spread across therapeutics, food, tools, materials and agricultural platforms. |
| Q2 2026 | 8 | $501.50M | NewLimit created a record quarter, while the other seven deals raised only $66.5 million. |
| All quarters | 52 | $1,605.61M | The synthetic biology market raised about $1.61 billion across five quarters. |
This chart, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, shows how Twist Bioscience is capturing share in synthetic biology
Which startups in the synthetic biology market raised the largest rounds over the last months?
These startups raised the most recently in the synthetic biology market:
- NewLimit raised $435 million to begin a liver clinical trial and expand programs that aim to restore younger cell functions.
- Strand Therapeutics raised $153 million to advance its lead cancer program and develop more programmable mRNA medicines.
- Profluent raised $106 million to improve its biological AI models and expand commercial work on proteins and genome editors.
- Stylus Medicine raised $85 million to build its genetic-medicine platform and develop in-vivo CAR-T treatments.
- Azalea Therapeutics raised $82 million to develop treatments that program therapeutic cells directly inside patients.
- Antheia raised $56 million to expand commercial production of pharmaceutical ingredients made with engineered yeast.
- Think Bioscience raised $55 million to advance its drug-discovery platform and its first therapeutic programs.
- The EVERY Company raised $55 million to increase production and launch more precision-fermented egg proteins with food manufacturers.
- Ansa Biotechnologies raised $54.4 million to expand its enzymatic DNA synthesis capacity and deliver longer DNA constructs.
- bit.bio raised $50 million to expand its programmed human-cell products, manufacturing capacity and therapeutic-development work.
And, yes, we do cover most of them in our our beautiful pitch about the synthetic biology market.
You may also want to check our ranking of the most funded startups in the synthetic biology market as well as our list of the most valued startups.
This chart, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, illustrates yearly funding for synthetic biology startups
Is the synthetic biology market shifting toward smaller or bigger deals?
The average synthetic biology funding round was $30.88 million across the five-quarter period.
The quarterly average ranged from $18.84 million in Q1 2026 to $62.69 million in Q2 2026. The Q2 2026 average increased because NewLimit raised $435 million.
After removing the largest outliers, the synthetic biology market shows a more stable early-stage funding environment with many rounds below $20 million.
| Quarter | Number of deals | Average deal size | Deals below $2M | Deals above $50M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | 8 | $27.22M | 0 | 2 |
| Q3 2025 | 6 | $33.40M | 0 | 1 |
| Q4 2025 | 16 | $26.39M | 2 | 4 |
| Q1 2026 | 14 | $18.84M | 0 | 1 |
| Q2 2026 | 8 | $62.69M | 0 | 1 |
| All quarters | 52 | $30.88M | 2 | 9 |
This chart, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, compares the main business model options for synthetic biology platforms
How concentrated was funding activity in the synthetic biology market?
Synthetic biology funding was highly concentrated because the largest deal captured more than 20% of funding in every quarter. The concentration was most extreme in Q2 2026, when NewLimit captured 86.7%.
The synthetic biology market was less concentrated in Q4 2025 because 16 companies raised capital across several different product categories.
| Quarter | Number of deals | % by Top 1 | % by Top 3 | % by Top 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | 8 | 39.0% | 78.5% | 100.0% |
| Q3 2025 | 6 | 76.3% | 89.0% | 100.0% |
| Q4 2025 | 16 | 25.1% | 57.5% | 93.7% |
| Q1 2026 | 14 | 20.9% | 51.2% | 93.2% |
| Q2 2026 | 8 | 86.7% | 93.6% | 100.0% |
| All quarters | 52 | 27.1% | 43.2% | 70.5% |
This chart, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, illustrates the share of revenue generated by each customer segment in the synthetic biology market
Which categories in the synthetic biology market received the most funding?
Synthetic biology therapeutics raised $874.4 million, or 54.5% of total funding. Large clinical and platform rounds require more capital than most food, material or agricultural projects.
Synbio food and ingredients raised $192.66 million, or 12.0% of total funding. The category completed the most deals, but most rounds remained below $30 million.
Tools and biofoundry infrastructure raised $188.3 million, or 11.7% of total funding. Investors supported platforms that can serve many research, manufacturing and therapeutic customers.
| Category name | Number of deals | Total raised ($) | Startups and amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic biology therapeutics | 8 | $874.4M | NewLimit ($435M), Strand Therapeutics ($153M), Stylus Medicine ($85M), Azalea Therapeutics ($82M), Think Bioscience ($55M), Grove Biopharma ($30M), Synthetic Design Lab ($20M), Syntax Bio ($14.4M) |
| Synbio food and ingredients | 13 | $192.66M | The EVERY Company ($55M), Verley ($30M), Standing Ovation ($28.5M), Mosa Meat ($17.6M), StrainX Bioworks ($13M), INTAKE ($9.2M), Melt&Marble ($8.5M), Nutropy ($8.1M), All G ($6.6M), Clean Food Group ($6.1M), Asterix Foods ($4.2M), PFx Biotech ($2.86M), Melazyme ($2M) |
| Tools and biofoundry infrastructure | 9 | $188.30M | Ansa Biotechnologies ($54.4M), bit.bio ($50M), Galatek ($30M), Pumpkinseed ($20M), Cauldron Ferm ($13.25M), Portal Biotechnologies ($9M), Trilobio ($8M), Anzen Industries ($2.2M), Immobazyme ($1.45M) |
This chart, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, shows how gene therapy technology has evolved over time
Who are the biggest investors in the synthetic biology market?
SOSV was the most active disclosed investor in the synthetic biology market, with three identified deals involving Scindo, Cauldron Ferm and Fermeate.
No other publicly identified investor appeared in more than one qualifying deal during the five-quarter period.
The limited investor ranking reflects incomplete public disclosures, because many synthetic biology funding announcements did not name every participant.
Disclaimer: this investor list may be incomplete; we focus on publicly disclosed lead and prominent recurring investors, so some frequent minority participants may be underrepresented. “Total funded” does not represent the amount personally invested by an individual investor. Instead, it refers to the aggregate amount raised across all fundraising rounds in which the investor participated.
| Investor | Number of deals | Total funded ($) | Startups |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOSV | 3 | $20.65M | Scindo, Cauldron Ferm and Fermeate |
This chart, featured in our synthetic biology market deck, shows how DNA tool adoption has driven growth in the synthetic biology market over time
Related blog posts
- All the funding deals in the synthetic biology market
- The startups that have raised the most funding in synthetic biology
- How strong is fundraising in the synthetic biology market right now?
