Capra Biosciences is a technology company.
Capra Biosciences has raised $5.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Capra Biosciences has raised $5.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Capra Biosciences has raised $5.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Capra Biosciences's investors include Alumni Ventures, Cyphr VC, Underscore VC, Max Blumenthal, BITKRAFT Ventures, Mayfield, Pioneer Fund, SOSV.
Capra Biosciences is a biotech startup founded in 2020 that develops sustainable, bio-based chemicals using a proprietary biofilm bioreactor technology to replace petrochemicals.[1][2][5] The company produces high-performance renewable chemicals, starting with bio-Retinol for the cosmetics market—targeting anti-aging products—and planning expansion into lubricants for the $150 billion motor oil sector.[1][2][4] It serves industries like cosmetics and automotive by converting waste carbon sources, such as food waste, into valuable molecules, solving the problem of costly, fossil fuel-dependent production through a process that cuts water use by up to 100X, minimizes infrastructure, and reduces CAPEX/OPEX by up to 90%.[1][3] Backed by investors like Closed Loop Partners and emerging from SOSV's IndieBio accelerator, Capra has raised an oversubscribed pre-seed round, expanded lab space, hired a small team (2-10 employees), and aims for a pilot plant to scale retinol production.[1][2][3]
Capra Biosciences was founded in 2020 by Elizabeth Onderko, who invented the core biofilm bioreactor technology during her National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).[2][5] Collaborators included her advisor Dr. Sarah Glaven, Dr. Matthew Yates, and Dr. Andrew Magyar, building on insights that 99% of bacteria naturally exist in biofilms for efficient production—flipping the script on traditional fermentation where biofilms are a hindrance.[1][2] The idea emerged from NRL research on microbial biofilms for sustainable chemical synthesis. Early traction came from graduating the competitive IndieBio program by SOSV, starting on a shared bench at the Prince William Science Accelerator, expanding to dedicated labs in 2022, securing an oversubscribed pre-seed round, and hiring full-time staff while interning students via Virginia Bio's STEM2VA program.[2]
Capra stands out in synthetic biology through its patented continuous-flow biofilm bioreactor, which packs microbes densely for teamwork-like efficiency, enabling cheaper, greener production of petrochemical replacements.[1][2][3][5]
Capra rides the synthetic biology wave for circular economy solutions, transforming waste carbon into high-value chemicals amid rising demands for supply chain resilience, decarbonization, and reduced petrochemical dependence.[3][4] Timing aligns with global pushes for sustainable manufacturing—post-2020 supply disruptions highlighted vulnerabilities in fossil fuel chains, while food waste (billions of tons annually) offers cheap feedstocks versus volatile sugar prices.[3] Market forces like cosmetics' lucrative retinol demand ($1B+ anti-aging segment) and motor oil's $150B scale favor Capra's cost-competitive biology, bolstered by U.S. biohub growth in Virginia.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by proving NRL tech transfer works, inspiring distributed biomanufacturing that cuts transport emissions and supports national defense strategies via resilient, local production.[2][3]
Capra is poised to scale its pilot plant for bio-Retinol commercialization within the next year, unlocking revenue from cosmetics before pivoting to lubricant base oils and broader petrochemical replacements.[2] Trends like advancing synbio tools, stricter ESG regulations, and waste valorization policies will accelerate adoption, potentially positioning Capra as a leader in affordable bio-chemicals if it nails unit economics.[1][3] Its influence may grow through partnerships, expanding the biofilm model to new molecules and feedstocks, ultimately reshaping extractive industries with resilient, waste-fueled production—echoing its origins in flipping fermentation's biggest "problem" into biotech's next efficiency edge.[1][2][5]
Capra Biosciences has raised $5.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in December 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2023 | $3.0M Seed | Alumni Ventures, Cyphr VC, Underscore VC, Max Blumenthal | |
| Jun 1, 2022 | $2.0M Seed | BITKRAFT Ventures, Mayfield, Pioneer Fund, SOSV |