Prolific Machines Raises $42M From Top Planetary Health Investors to Build the Assembly Line for Biology

Prolific Machines, a subsequent technology biotechnology firm, is rising from stealth right now by saying their massively oversubscribed Seed and Series A financings, led by the finest VCs in the house. The Seed spherical was led by Arvind Gupta at Mayfield, the first investor in cultured meat. The Series A was led by Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Prolific’s first examine was written in late 2020, when SOSV’s IndieBio led their Pre-Seed spherical.

The lead VCs have been joined by quite a few excessive profile co-investors reminiscent of David Adelman, Mark Cuban (proprietor of the Dallas Mavericks), The Kraft Group (homeowners of the New England Patriots), David Rubenstein, Michael Rubin, Breyer Capital, The SALT Fund, Purple Orange Ventures, Fred Blackford, Jake Poliskin, and Baruch Future Ventures. Quite a few celebrities and restaurateurs have additionally invested in Prolific together with: Kevin Love, Tobias Harris, Meek Mill, Ciara & Russell Wilson, Emily Ratajkowski, Maverick Carter, Sean Feeney, Michael Schulson, Mark Bucher, and RJ Melman.

Prolific is exclusive in that they’re inventing the scalable manufacturing course of first, and a product second. This may be very completely different to the path taken by different cultured meat corporations. Prolific goals to do for biology what Henry Ford did for cars. In 1906, there have been a whole bunch of automobile corporations, but most individuals couldn’t afford a automobile. After Ford invented the meeting line for cars, automobile manufacturing turned scalable, after which vehicles turned a mass market merchandise. Prolific is inventing the expertise that holds the key to constructing a scalable meeting line for biology.

Dr. Deniz Kent, Co-founder and CEO of Prolific Machines, began the firm after witnessing the Syrian refugee disaster in his hometown of Antioch, Turkey. He realized that what he skilled could be nothing in contrast to the impending international refugee crises brought on by local weather change. He knew his experience in stem cell biology could possibly be used to create a sustainable meals system, however lacked confidence in the capacity of current applied sciences to compete with manufacturing unit farming on value. He conceived of a brand new method to develop and management cells with out the want for any recombinant proteins, the most costly substances in cell manufacturing. He spent three years looking for the good co-founders whereas the thought marinated in his thoughts. He finally discovered an excellent physicist Dr. Max Huisman, and an distinctive machine studying engineer Declan Jones. Deniz satisfied them to give up their jobs, and collectively they assembled an all-star group to embark upon a journey to revolutionize biomanufacturing.

“We are of the opinion that existing technologies being deployed in cultured meat will not reach price parity with factory farming. A fundamentally new approach is going to be required. We are inventing this new approach, and I’m open to making our technology available to every meat company. Our mission is to address the existential risks posed by our changing climate, and we have no time to waste,” stated Deniz.

Arvind Gupta, accomplice at Mayfield and first investor in lots of distinguished meals corporations, says of the Seed spherical, “I never intended to invest in another cultured meat company. But when Deniz showed me what they were doing, I was blown away by the creativity in their approach to reinvent the assembly line for food production. It is my goal to help reverse climate change by partnering with incredible teams, and I am convinced Prolific Machines will be a winner in the race for sustainable food production.”

After making fast progress, Breakthrough Energy Ventures met the group and was equally impressed. “Prior to meeting Prolific we had come to the conclusion that a fundamental breakthrough would be required for cultured meat to be economically competitive with conventional meat production,” stated Carmichael Roberts, Breakthrough Energy Ventures. “We consider that Prolific Machines could also be this breakthrough. Prolific’s novel expertise has the potential to allow the cost-competitive manufacturing of high-quality cultured meat merchandise they usually have the group to execute it.”

Po Bronson, Managing Director at IndieBio and General Partner at SOSV, was the first to recognise Prolific’s potential. He wrote the Pre-Seed examine, and incubated them from IndieBio whereas they de-risked their early science. “Prolific was a radical idea with a truly incredible team, exactly what IndieBio loves. Prolific has broken all of the records at IndieBio, and I see their technology as the best in this space.”

Deniz explains the subsequent steps. “We are building a 25,000 square foot HQ in Emeryville and ramping up hiring to expand our assembly line programs, including fish, poultry, and beef. If you are talented and looking to make a historic change, come and talk to us.”

If you desire to to assist us, you possibly can be part of the waitlist and discover out extra data at www.prolific-machines.com.

About Prolific Machines

Prolific Machines is a biomanufacturing firm inventing novel applied sciences to develop and differentiate stem cells at a dramatically decrease value relative to typical means. The preliminary focus of the firm is cultured meat, however the expertise they’re creating is cell-agnostic, that means that it could possibly be utilized to myriad of various purposes in biotechnology. Further data is accessible at www.prolific-machines.com, and you may keep up to date by following the firm on LinkedIn.

About Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Founded by Bill Gates and backed by lots of the world’s high business leaders, BEV has raised greater than $2 billion in dedicated capital to assist cutting-edge corporations which can be main the world to net-zero emissions. BEV is a purpose-built funding agency that’s looking for to make investments, launch and scale international corporations that may eradicate GHG emissions all through the economy as quickly as doable. BEV seeks true breakthroughs and is dedicated to supporting these entrepreneurs and firms by bringing to bear a novel mixture of technical, operational, market and coverage experience.

BEV is part of Breakthrough Energy, a community of funding autos, philanthropic packages, coverage advocacy, and different actions dedicated to scaling the applied sciences we want to attain net-zero emissions by 2050. Visit www.breakthroughenergy.org to be taught extra.

About Mayfield

Mayfield is a world enterprise capital agency with a people-first philosophy and a 50+ 12 months observe document of inception and early-stage investing, partnering with founders to construct iconic enterprise, client and engineering biology corporations. Since its founding, the agency has invested in additional than 500 corporations, leading to 120 IPOs and greater than 200 acquisitions, and at the moment has $2.2B underneath administration. For extra data, go to https://www.mayfield.com or comply with @MayfieldFund.

View supply model on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220914005004/en/