Alexandria Venture Investments

Hoofprint Biome is a biotechnology company that develops probiotics and natural enzymes to enhance the sustainability of ruminant livestock production. Their products improve cattle health and digestive care by reducing methane emissions, thereby enabling the livestock industry to adopt more sustainable practices through microbiome engineering.

Avalo is a plant biology company that employs interpretable machine learning, genomic discovery, and evolutionary theory to expedite the development of new crops tailored for future agricultural needs. Utilizing AI-assisted plant breeding methods, Avalo creates non-GMO products that foster natural biodiversity. Its core technology, a discovery engine, can swiftly identify genetic bases of complex traits even in understudied crops, reducing time and cost significantly compared to traditional methods. This enables Avalo to forecast and enhance crop traits like drought tolerance and nutrient density, adapting agriculture to changing climates.

Meiogenix is a biotechnology company developing breeding technologies to uncover unexplored genetic diversity in organisms, expanding natural biodiversity and enabling the development of products to address global food, climate, sustainability, and industrial challenges. It uses chromosome-editing-based approaches to modulate the frequency of homologous recombination in eukaryotic cells, enabling natural breeding and delivering new products for farmers and industry.

Harpe Bioherbicide Solutions is a Raleigh-based company that provides sustainable weed-management solutions for organic and industrial agriculture. Harpe Bio's technologies deliver natural crop protection by utilizing a variety of plant extracts. The plant extracts serve as a platform that may be tailored to various weed management circumstances. Harpe's herbicide platform can be used alone or in conjunction with any currently marketed herbicide. Harpe's new modes and areas of action will improve synthetic herbicide efficacy, including the reduction of resistant weed populations.

5Metis is a pure-play discovery company focused on crop health. It emerged from the combination of the Boragen and AgriMetis platforms, integrating boron-based small-molecule discovery with synthetic biology to identify new modes of action for crop protection and health. The company aims to deliver novel modes of action not currently available in the agrichemical industry, enabling farmers to improve crop protection and overall crop health through targeted solutions.

Umaro Foods focuses on creating a sustainable plant-based protein derived from ocean-farmed seaweed. The company aims to provide an alternative to traditional animal products by offering nutritious and flavorful food options, including crispy and umami-rich bacon alternatives. By leveraging seaweed farming, Umaro seeks to promote a more humane treatment of animals while also supporting environmental sustainability. The innovative approach positions seaweed as a viable and scalable source of protein, which can surpass traditional soy production, contributing to a thriving planet.

Advanced Animal Diagnostics, Inc. specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of on-farm diagnostic tools aimed at the early detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. Founded in 2001 and based in Durham, North Carolina, the company offers innovative products such as the QScout Farm Lab, an analyzer system that detects infections before visible symptoms occur, and the QScout Milk Leukocyte Differential rapid test, which identifies and differentiates leukocytes in milk to facilitate early mastitis detection. Additionally, Advanced Animal Diagnostics provides the QuickSmear slide for animal research and the SCC+ System for timely mastitis diagnosis. The company's solutions focus on enhancing the management of disease states and improving the reproductive, nutritional, and overall health of production animals, serving veterinarians and livestock producers to promote healthier and more productive animal care.

Elo Life Systems is a biotechnology company dedicated to enhancing human health through innovative food solutions. It aims to bridge gaps between food, agriculture, and health by partnering with stakeholders across the food systems value chain. Elo employs precision breeding technologies, genomics, data analytics, machine learning, and gene editing capabilities to develop healthier, more sustainable food options.

Harpe Bioherbicide Solutions is a Raleigh-based company that provides sustainable weed-management solutions for organic and industrial agriculture. Harpe Bio's technologies deliver natural crop protection by utilizing a variety of plant extracts. The plant extracts serve as a platform that may be tailored to various weed management circumstances. Harpe's herbicide platform can be used alone or in conjunction with any currently marketed herbicide. Harpe's new modes and areas of action will improve synthetic herbicide efficacy, including the reduction of resistant weed populations.

Umaro Foods focuses on creating a sustainable plant-based protein derived from ocean-farmed seaweed. The company aims to provide an alternative to traditional animal products by offering nutritious and flavorful food options, including crispy and umami-rich bacon alternatives. By leveraging seaweed farming, Umaro seeks to promote a more humane treatment of animals while also supporting environmental sustainability. The innovative approach positions seaweed as a viable and scalable source of protein, which can surpass traditional soy production, contributing to a thriving planet.

Harpe Bioherbicide Solutions is a Raleigh-based company that provides sustainable weed-management solutions for organic and industrial agriculture. Harpe Bio's technologies deliver natural crop protection by utilizing a variety of plant extracts. The plant extracts serve as a platform that may be tailored to various weed management circumstances. Harpe's herbicide platform can be used alone or in conjunction with any currently marketed herbicide. Harpe's new modes and areas of action will improve synthetic herbicide efficacy, including the reduction of resistant weed populations.

Avalo is a plant biology company that employs interpretable machine learning, genomic discovery, and evolutionary theory to expedite the development of new crops tailored for future agricultural needs. Utilizing AI-assisted plant breeding methods, Avalo creates non-GMO products that foster natural biodiversity. Its core technology, a discovery engine, can swiftly identify genetic bases of complex traits even in understudied crops, reducing time and cost significantly compared to traditional methods. This enables Avalo to forecast and enhance crop traits like drought tolerance and nutrient density, adapting agriculture to changing climates.

Meiogenix is a biotechnology company developing breeding technologies to uncover unexplored genetic diversity in organisms, expanding natural biodiversity and enabling the development of products to address global food, climate, sustainability, and industrial challenges. It uses chromosome-editing-based approaches to modulate the frequency of homologous recombination in eukaryotic cells, enabling natural breeding and delivering new products for farmers and industry.

Soli Organic is an indoor farming company that grows and supplies fresh organic culinary herbs to grocery stores year-round. It uses a vertically integrated approach to produce living organic plants with fresh-cut leaves, including lime leaves, rosemary, chives, and arugula, grown regionally to emphasize freshness and sustainability. By delivering a steady, locally produced supply of herbs, the company aims to provide high-quality, flavorful products to retailers and their customers.

Crop Enhancement LLC is an early-stage specialty materials company based in San Jose, California, founded in 2011. The company focuses on developing innovative anchoring and controlled-release formulation technologies for agricultural chemicals. Its advanced agrochemical formulations utilize environmentally friendly chemistry to enhance crop yields and profitability while minimizing the reliance on synthetic pesticides. Crop Enhancement's products include proprietary films that modify plant surfaces, improving resistance to pests and diseases. This approach not only supports sustainable farming practices but also enables precise delivery of active ingredients and fertilizers, ultimately benefiting growers through increased efficiency and reduced chemical use.

Invaio Sciences is a multi-platform technology company focused on solving agriculture, nutrition, and environmental challenges by applying advanced science to understand the physiology of insects and the interdependent natural systems that shape crop health. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional locations in Durham, North Carolina; Basel, Switzerland; and São Paulo, Brazil, the company develops technologies to reduce pesticide use, conserve water, and improve crop health, while pursuing breakthrough solutions across agriculture, human health, animal nutrition, and animal health.

Inari is a biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing agriculture and its societal and environmental impact. The company utilizes advanced technologies, including predictive design and multiplex gene editing, to maximize the potential of seeds. Its unique SEEDesign platform distinguishes Inari by enabling the enhancement of various crops across different geographies, facilitating the development of innovative agricultural products. By embracing diversity, Inari fosters innovation and aims to contribute to the creation of a new food system.

Advanced Animal Diagnostics, Inc. specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of on-farm diagnostic tools aimed at the early detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. Founded in 2001 and based in Durham, North Carolina, the company offers innovative products such as the QScout Farm Lab, an analyzer system that detects infections before visible symptoms occur, and the QScout Milk Leukocyte Differential rapid test, which identifies and differentiates leukocytes in milk to facilitate early mastitis detection. Additionally, Advanced Animal Diagnostics provides the QuickSmear slide for animal research and the SCC+ System for timely mastitis diagnosis. The company's solutions focus on enhancing the management of disease states and improving the reproductive, nutritional, and overall health of production animals, serving veterinarians and livestock producers to promote healthier and more productive animal care.

Crop Enhancement LLC is an early-stage specialty materials company based in San Jose, California, founded in 2011. The company focuses on developing innovative anchoring and controlled-release formulation technologies for agricultural chemicals. Its advanced agrochemical formulations utilize environmentally friendly chemistry to enhance crop yields and profitability while minimizing the reliance on synthetic pesticides. Crop Enhancement's products include proprietary films that modify plant surfaces, improving resistance to pests and diseases. This approach not only supports sustainable farming practices but also enables precise delivery of active ingredients and fertilizers, ultimately benefiting growers through increased efficiency and reduced chemical use.

GreenLight Biosciences is a biotechnology company specializing in RNA-based solutions for agriculture and pharmaceutical applications. It develops mRNA vaccines, including COVID-19 candidates, and offers sustainable crop protection technologies using its proprietary cell-free production platform.

Benson Hill is an agricultural technology company that specializes in crop improvement and soy protein innovation. The company focuses on unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants to develop healthier, more sustainable food and ingredients. Its proprietary CropOS platform leverages machine learning and big data alongside traditional breeding techniques to streamline and expedite the product development process. Benson Hill operates a Crop Accelerator designed for rapid prototyping and is actively developing a seed portfolio that includes protein ingredients, aquaculture, specialty animal feed, and vegetable oils. The company generates revenue from both proprietary and non-proprietary product categories, with proprietary revenue stemming from the sale of its unique bean varieties.

Inari is a biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing agriculture and its societal and environmental impact. The company utilizes advanced technologies, including predictive design and multiplex gene editing, to maximize the potential of seeds. Its unique SEEDesign platform distinguishes Inari by enabling the enhancement of various crops across different geographies, facilitating the development of innovative agricultural products. By embracing diversity, Inari fosters innovation and aims to contribute to the creation of a new food system.

Cibus is a biotechnology company specializing in precision gene editing for agriculture, aimed at making farming more sustainable and profitable. The company has developed patented breeding technologies that facilitate precise and predictable modifications in plants without the integration of foreign genetic material. Its core innovation, the Rapid Trait Development System, combines crop-specific cell biology platforms with advanced gene editing techniques. Cibus focuses on creating plant traits that address specific agricultural challenges, including those related to productivity, disease resistance, insect control, weed management, nutrient use, and climate adaptability. Through these efforts, Cibus seeks to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices.

EpiBiome, Inc. is a precision microbiome engineering company based in South San Francisco, California, founded in 2013. The company is dedicated to developing therapies that address infectious diseases in humans and agriculture without relying on small-molecule antibiotics. EpiBiome focuses on phage therapy, which targets specific strains within the microbiome, effectively treating antibiotic-resistant infections. Its applications include treatment for mastitis in dairy cows and addressing infections caused by Escherichia coli in humans. By utilizing advanced sequencing and bioinformatic processes, EpiBiome aims to identify pathogenic bacteria and microbiome changes that contribute to disease, offering innovative alternatives to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. As of July 2018, it operates as a subsidiary of Locus Biosciences, Inc.

Benson Hill is an agricultural technology company that specializes in crop improvement and soy protein innovation. The company focuses on unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants to develop healthier, more sustainable food and ingredients. Its proprietary CropOS platform leverages machine learning and big data alongside traditional breeding techniques to streamline and expedite the product development process. Benson Hill operates a Crop Accelerator designed for rapid prototyping and is actively developing a seed portfolio that includes protein ingredients, aquaculture, specialty animal feed, and vegetable oils. The company generates revenue from both proprietary and non-proprietary product categories, with proprietary revenue stemming from the sale of its unique bean varieties.