Amyris is a biotechnology company that develops renewable, sustainable products by engineering microbes to convert plant sugars into high-performance molecules. It serves industries including cosmetics, flavors and fragrances, performance materials, and renewable fuels, addressing problems of supply chain instability, environmental impact, and reliance on petroleum-based products. Amyris has demonstrated strong growth momentum by scaling commercial production of specialty ingredients like squalane, farnesene, and zero-calorie sweeteners, and expanding its fermentation capacity with advanced plants[1][2][4].
Founded in 2003 by UC Berkeley scientists including Jay Keasling, Amyris originated with a humanitarian mission to produce the anti-malarial drug artemisinin via synthetic biology. The founders leveraged their expertise in metabolic engineering to create microbes that act as living factories, enabling sustainable and scalable production of rare natural compounds. Early traction came from partnerships such as with Sanofi for artemisinin and subsequent launches of biotech-derived fragrance and cosmetic ingredients with major partners like Firmenich and Givaudan[1][2][5].
Amyris rides the broader trend of industrial synthetic biology and renewable bio-based chemicals, which are gaining momentum due to increasing environmental regulations, consumer demand for sustainable products, and the need to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The timing is favorable as industries seek scalable, cost-effective alternatives to petrochemicals and rare natural ingredients. Amyris influences the ecosystem by demonstrating how biology can be harnessed at scale to transform supply chains and product innovation in multiple sectors[1][3][4].
Amyris is positioned to expand its impact by scaling new fermentation lines and broadening its product offerings in renewable chemicals and biofuels. Trends such as climate change mitigation, circular economy adoption, and synthetic biology innovation will shape its journey. The company’s influence may grow as it enables partners to launch sustainable products faster and more reliably, potentially redefining multiple industries with renewable biological chemistry. Continued investment in technology and manufacturing capacity will be key to sustaining growth and leadership in the bioeconomy[1][4].
Amyris has raised $153.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Amyris's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Balderton Capital, Bowery Capital, Buckley Ventures, Canvas Ventures, DCM, Electric Capital, Footwork, General Catalyst, Goat Capital, Human Capital, Khosla Ventures.
Amyris has raised $153.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $42.0M Series C in September 2009.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2009 | $42.0M Series C | Andreessen Horowitz, Balderton Capital, Bowery Capital, Buckley Ventures, Canvas Ventures, DCM, Electric Capital, Footwork, General Catalyst, Goat Capital, Human Capital, Khosla Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Pioneer Fund, Presence Capital, Quiet Capital, Gil Penchina, South Park Commons, The General Partnership, UpHonest Capital, VitalStage Ventures, Adrian Aoun, Charlie Songhurst, Chris Fanini, Desmond Lim, Dharmesh Shah, Emmett Shear, Immad Akhund, Karim Atiyeh, Kevin Lin, Kyle Vogt, Manish Shah, Matt Brezina, Michał Borkowski, Mikhail Seregine, Paul McKellar, Rene Reinsberg, Sam Altman, Samvit Ramadurgam, Sohail Prasad, Tikhon Bernstam, Tirto Adji, Travis Vanderzanden, Wayne Chang | |
| Aug 1, 2008 | $21.0M Series B | Andreessen Horowitz, Balderton Capital, Bowery Capital, Buckley Ventures, Canvas Ventures, DCM, Electric Capital, Footwork, General Catalyst, Goat Capital, Human Capital, Khosla Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Pioneer Fund, Presence Capital, Quiet Capital, Gil Penchina, South Park Commons, The General Partnership, UpHonest Capital, VitalStage Ventures, Adrian Aoun, Charlie Songhurst, Chris Fanini, Desmond Lim, Dharmesh Shah, Emmett Shear, Immad Akhund, Karim Atiyeh, Kevin Lin, Kyle Vogt, Manish Shah, Matt Brezina, Michał Borkowski, Mikhail Seregine, Paul McKellar, Rene Reinsberg, Sam Altman, Samvit Ramadurgam, Sohail Prasad, Tikhon Bernstam, Tirto Adji, Travis Vanderzanden, Wayne Chang | |
| Sep 1, 2007 | $70.0M Series B | Andreessen Horowitz, Balderton Capital, Bowery Capital, Buckley Ventures, Canvas Ventures, DCM, Electric Capital, Footwork, General Catalyst, Goat Capital, Human Capital, Khosla Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Pioneer Fund, Presence Capital, Quiet Capital, Gil Penchina, South Park Commons, The General Partnership, UpHonest Capital, VitalStage Ventures, Adrian Aoun, Charlie Songhurst, Chris Fanini, Desmond Lim, Dharmesh Shah, Emmett Shear, Immad Akhund, Karim Atiyeh, Kevin Lin, Kyle Vogt, Manish Shah, Matt Brezina, Michał Borkowski, Mikhail Seregine, Paul McKellar, Rene Reinsberg, Sam Altman, Samvit Ramadurgam, Sohail Prasad, Tikhon Bernstam, Tirto Adji, Travis Vanderzanden, Wayne Chang | |
| Oct 1, 2006 | $20.0M Series A | Andreessen Horowitz, Balderton Capital, Bowery Capital, Buckley Ventures, Canvas Ventures, DCM, Electric Capital, Footwork, General Catalyst, Goat Capital, Human Capital, Khosla Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Pioneer Fund, Presence Capital, Quiet Capital, Gil Penchina, South Park Commons, The General Partnership, UpHonest Capital, VitalStage Ventures, Adrian Aoun, Charlie Songhurst, Chris Fanini, Desmond Lim, Dharmesh Shah, Emmett Shear, Immad Akhund, Karim Atiyeh, Kevin Lin, Kyle Vogt, Manish Shah, Matt Brezina, Michał Borkowski, Mikhail Seregine, Paul McKellar, Rene Reinsberg, Sam Altman, Samvit Ramadurgam, Sohail Prasad, Tikhon Bernstam, Tirto Adji, Travis Vanderzanden, Wayne Chang |
