LS9, Inc.
LS9, Inc. is a company.
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Key people at LS9, Inc..
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded LS9, Inc.?
LS9, Inc. was founded by David Berry (Founder).
LS9, Inc. is a company.
Key people at LS9, Inc..
LS9, Inc. was founded by David Berry (Founder).
LS9, Inc. was founded by David Berry (Founder).
Key people at LS9, Inc..
LS9, Inc. was a synthetic biology company that developed genetically modified *E. coli* bacteria to produce renewable petroleum products, including drop-in hydrocarbon fuels like diesel, biodiesel, and green chemicals as alternatives to petroleum-derived ones.[1][2][3] It targeted large markets in fuels and chemicals by converting renewable biomass via a proprietary one-step fermentation process, solving high costs and energy intensity of traditional chemical conversions.[1][3] The company raised $81 million in venture funding, achieved pilot-scale production, and was acquired by Renewable Energy Group (REG) in 2014 for up to $61.5 million, forming the basis of REG Life Sciences.[2][4]
LS9 launched in 2005 as a venture-funded startup from Flagship Pioneering, focusing on transgenic organisms for diesel fuel production.[1][2] Key early milestones included a $25 million funding round in 2009, partnerships like with Procter & Gamble for sustainable chemicals, site purchases in Florida for manufacturing, and EPA registration for UltraClean Diesel™ in 2010.[1] Scientific breakthroughs, such as converting sugar to alkanes published in *Science* and collaborations with U.C. Berkeley and JBEI on cellulosic fuels, drove early traction toward commercial-scale renewable products.[1][3] By 2014, after scaling to 135,000-liter fermentation runs, LS9 was acquired by REG, the largest U.S. biodiesel producer.[4]
LS9 rode the early 2000s synthetic biology wave, capitalizing on rising demand for advanced biofuels amid oil price volatility and climate concerns.[2][3] Its timing aligned with biomass conversion innovations, enabling "drop-in" fuels that integrated into petroleum infrastructure without retrofits—a key enabler for scaling renewables.[1][4] Market forces like government support (e.g., EPA approvals) and partnerships accelerated adoption, influencing the ecosystem by proving engineered microbes could disrupt petrochemicals.[1][3] Post-acquisition, it bolstered REG's biotech arm, contributing to the evolution of industrial biotech for fuels, chemicals, and beyond.[4]
LS9's technology lives on within REG Life Sciences, with potential for expanded commercial production of tailored fuels and chemicals using REG's infrastructure and funding.[4] Trends like biomass utilization, carbon capture, and sustainable aviation fuels could drive growth, especially with ongoing DOE investments in bioenergy R&D.[6] Its influence may evolve through partnerships, scaling novel products, and integrating into global supply chains—pioneering how synbio replaces petroleum at industrial scale, much like its original mission to deliver green alternatives for diverse markets.[1][3][4]
