Rhizocore Technologies is a technology company.
Rhizocore Technologies has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round.
Rhizocore Technologies has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Rhizocore Technologies is a biotechnology company specializing in applied mycology to enhance tree planting success through locally adapted mycorrhizal fungi delivered via Rhizopellets. It serves forestry, woodland restoration, carbon sequestration, and environmental restoration sectors by addressing challenges like poor sapling survival, slow growth, and nutrient deficiencies in replanting efforts.[1][2][6] The company solves the problem of fungal network loss after tree felling, which hampers replanting by boosting tree growth (up to 50%), resilience to drought and disease (saving up to £400/ha in costs), and carbon capture (20% increase).[2][6] Founded in 2021 as a University of Edinburgh spinout, it has raised $5.17M total (latest £4.5M in 2023), operates over 100 field sites, and shows strong growth with expansion into production and North America.[1][2]
Rhizocore Technologies spun out from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Deep Science Venture’s FAST programme in 2021, founded by plant biologist Dr. Toby Parkes as CEO.[2][5] Parkes leveraged one of the world’s largest living fungal libraries to develop ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that form symbiotic root networks, improving nutrient and water uptake for saplings.[2][6] Early traction came from field trials, such as Downy Birch saplings growing 13x faster than controls at a Trees for Life site, and deployments on challenging terrains like mining land and moorlands, building to over 100 active UK/Europe sites.[2] Pivotal funding rounds, including £3.5M (led by ReGen Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Grok Ventures) and £4.5M with customer investors, fueled scaling.[1][2][3]
Rhizocore rides the nature-based solutions trend in climate tech, aligning with global reforestation goals (e.g., UK woodland targets, EU carbon farming) amid climate-driven soil instability and biodiversity loss.[1][2][6] Timing is ideal as tree-planting failures (high mortality in early stages) undermine net-zero efforts; their fungi restore belowground networks lost in felling, amplifying financial returns on forest assets and natural capital.[2][6] Market tailwinds include rising demand for carbon sequestration (657 tonnes CO2e locked at one site over 60 years) and regulatory pushes for sustainable forestry.[1] Rhizocore influences the ecosystem by partnering with charities (Trees for Life), utilities, and investors, proving biotech scalability in agri-forestry while pioneering mycoremediation for water quality.[2][4]
Rhizocore is poised for accelerated growth, leveraging its order book, North American push, and production ramp-up to capture shares in billion-tree planting markets.[2] Key trends like carbon markets, regenerative agriculture, and pollutant regulations will propel demand, especially as mycoremediation bio-filters commercialize post-Defra funding.[4] Influence may evolve from UK restoration leader to global fungi-tech platform, potentially via partnerships or acquisitions in climate biotech, solidifying its role in harmonious, data-driven environmental restoration.[2][6] This positions Rhizocore as a cornerstone in blending biotech with nature for resilient forests.
Rhizocore Technologies has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Rhizocore Technologies's investors include Collaborative Fund, Comcast Ventures, David Wallerstein.
Rhizocore Technologies has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in June 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2023 | $4.0M Seed | Collaborative Fund, Comcast Ventures, David Wallerstein |