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Based in Ithaca, New York, Ascribe Bioscience develops natural crop protection solutions and biopesticides derived from small molecules found in the soil microbiome. The company's flagship product, Phytalix, functions as a seed treatment and foliar spray to activate innate immune responses against fungal and bacterial diseases in major broadacre crops such as wheat, corn, and soybeans. Operating with fewer than 25 employees, the agricultural technology enterprise has secured significant capital to commercialize its biological inputs, including an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round in 2025 and a $2.5 million seed round in 2023. Ascribe Bioscience is backed by a syndicate of prominent agricultural investors, counting Acre Venture Partners, Corteva Catalyst, The Yield Lab, and Syngenta Group Ventures among its institutional shareholders. The spin-out organization was founded in 2017 by Jay Farmer, Frank Schroeder, Daniel Klessig, and Murli Manohar.
Ascribe Bioscience has raised $17.5M across 3 funding rounds.
Ascribe Bioscience has raised $17.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ascribe Bioscience has raised $17.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ascribe Bioscience's investors include Acre Venture Partners, Tom Greene, Across Capital Partners, MAYA Capital, Valor Capital Group, Marcelo Abritta, Cultivation Capital, Silver Blue, Syngenta Group Ventures, The Yield Lab, Trailhead Capital, Alex B..
Ascribe Bioscience has raised $17.5M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $12.0M Series A in October 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2025 | $12M Series A | Acre Venture Partners, TOM Greene | Across Capital Partners, MAYA Capital, Valor Capital Group, Marcelo Abritta, Cultivation Capital, Silver Blue, Syngenta Group Ventures, The Yield LAB, Trailhead Capital | Announced |
| Nov 11, 2021 | $2.5M Seed | Alex B., Kyle Welborn | Ponderosa Ventures, Trailhead Capital | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2021 | $3M Seed | — | Acre Venture Partners, Across Capital Partners, MAYA Capital, Valor Capital Group, Marcelo Abritta | Announced |
Ascribe Bioscience is an agricultural biotechnology company developing natural crop protection products, primarily the biofungicide Phytalix, derived from small molecules called ascarosides in the soil microbiome.[1][2][3] These biobased solutions prime plants' innate defenses to combat diseases, boost yields, and reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, serving farmers from large-scale commodity growers to specialty crop producers while ensuring environmental safety, biodegradability, and bee-friendliness.[1][2] With strong growth momentum—including a $2.5M seed round in its early years and a $12M Series A to scale Phytalix globally—the company is advancing toward regulatory approvals in Brazil, the US, and other markets.[3][4]
Ascribe Bioscience was founded in 2017 in Ithaca, New York, spinning out from groundbreaking discoveries at Cornell University's Boyce Thompson Institute, where professors Dan Klessig and Frank Schroeder identified ascarosides—beneficial small signaling molecules naturally produced by soil microbes that enhance plant-pathogen interactions.[2][3][4] Led by CEO Dr. Jay Farmer and a team of plant scientists, chemists, agronomists, and business professionals, the company emerged to commercialize this decade of research backed by over 500 field trials demonstrating disease control, yield improvements, and resistance management.[2][4] Early traction included a $2.5M seed round co-led by The Yield Lab and Acre Venture Partners, with participation from Trailhead Capital and Ponderosa Ventures, fueling initial product development.[4]
Ascribe rides the sustainable agriculture trend, capitalizing on mounting pressures like disease losses claiming 25% of global harvests, chemical resistance, and regulatory pushes for greener inputs amid climate challenges.[3] Its timing aligns with investor demand for profitable, nature-inspired biologicals—evidenced by high-caliber Series A backers like Corteva—bridging the gap between unreliable biologicals and harmful synthetics in a $10B+ crop protection market shifting toward microbiome-derived innovations.[3] By unlocking soil microbiome potential, Ascribe influences the ecosystem through scalable tools that enhance crop resilience, cut chemical use, and enable higher yields, supporting food security and planetary health while competing with players like Aphea.Bio and Emerald Bioagriculture.[1][3]
Ascribe is primed for commercial breakout with Phytalix's first approvals in Brazil soon, followed by US and global launches, leveraging its $12M Series A for manufacturing scale-up and market expansion.[3] Trends like precision ag, microbiome tech, and ESG investing will accelerate its trajectory, potentially disrupting synthetic fungicides as resistance grows and sustainability mandates tighten. Its influence could expand via more partnerships (e.g., Nutrien) and new ascaroside products, solidifying Ascribe as a leader in resilient, eco-friendly crop protection that empowers farmers without trade-offs—echoing its mission to make agriculture better for people and the planet.[2][3]
