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§ Private Profile · Hangzhou, China
Synthetic biology company engineering microorganisms for sustainable biological manufacturing of APIs, enzymes, and proteins.
Bota Biosciences is an industrial biotechnology company based in Lafayette, California, and Hangzhou, China, that engineers microorganisms and biological components to transition traditional chemical manufacturing into sustainable industrial biological production. The company operates a technology platform called the Bota Freeway, which integrates digital tools and laboratory automation to accelerate the design and testing of biological manufacturing processes. This system allows manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients, enzymes, and proteins to receive high-throughput screening data 50 percent faster than existing technological alternatives. To date, the enterprise has raised $145 million in total funding, which includes a $100 million Series B financing round backed by prominent institutional and corporate investors such as BASF, Sequoia Capital China, Source Code Capital, and Matrix Partners China. Bota Biosciences was founded in 2019 by Cheryl Cui, Timothy Lu, and Chia-Hong Tsai.
Bota Biosciences has raised $100.0M across 1 funding round.
Bota Biosciences has raised $100.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Bota Biosciences is an industrial synthetic biotechnology company that develops advanced biological systems for sustainable and efficient bio-manufacturing of common household and industrial products. Their core product offerings include high-quality bio-preservatives, nutritional supplements, and personal care ingredients produced through synthetic biology and enzyme engineering from renewable resources. Bota Bio serves industries such as food, nutrition, personal care, and animal health by replacing petroleum-based chemical processes with environmentally friendly biomanufacturing methods, significantly reducing raw material and energy consumption. Their integrated bioengineering platform, Bota Freeway™, accelerates strain development and optimizes fermentation processes, enabling cost-efficient and scalable production. The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum, backed by over $100 million in funding and expanding industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities[1][2][4].
Founded in 2019, Bota Biosciences was established by a team of multidisciplinary industry veterans with expertise in synthetic biology, bioengineering, and computational biology. The idea emerged from the vision to program biological systems to transform traditional manufacturing into sustainable biomanufacturing. Early milestones included the development of their proprietary biofoundry platform, successful plasmid construction, and securing their first commercial contracts. Over the past five years, Bota has evolved into a full-chain biotechnology company with pilot plants and industrial production sites, launching commercial products such as the biopreservative Nisin and personal care brand Yucca Elements. Their growth was supported by significant funding rounds, including a $100 million Series B, and the establishment of large-scale fermentation production facilities[1][4][3].
Bota Biosciences rides the growing global trend toward sustainable industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology, which aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower environmental impact. The timing is favorable due to increasing regulatory pressure, consumer demand for green products, and advances in computational biology and automation. Market forces such as rising R&D investments in synthetic biology, expanding applications in healthcare, agriculture, and industrial sectors, and the need for scalable bio-manufacturing solutions work in Bota’s favor. By bridging biological design with scale-up manufacturing, Bota influences the broader ecosystem by accelerating the adoption of bio-based alternatives and demonstrating the commercial viability of synthetic biology at industrial scale[1][2][6].
Looking ahead, Bota Biosciences is poised to expand its product portfolio and manufacturing capacity, leveraging AI and automation to further enhance strain development and process efficiency. Trends such as personalized nutrition, green chemistry, and circular bioeconomy will shape their journey. Their influence is likely to grow as they enable more brands and manufacturers to transition to sustainable bio-manufacturing, potentially setting new industry standards. Continued innovation and strategic partnerships will be key to maintaining their leadership in synthetic biology-driven industrial biotechnology, fulfilling their mission to catalyze a global shift toward sustainable production[4][6].
Bota Biosciences has raised $100.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $100.0M Series B in July 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2021 | $100M Series B | Sequoia Capital | AIX Ventures, Amadeus Capital Partners, Atomico, Dell Technologies Capital, Hitachi Ventures, Meituan, Sequoia Capital China, Greg Brockman, Paul Holland, Shane Neman, 5Y Capital, Matrix Partners China, Sherpa Healthcare Partners, Source Code Capital | Announced |
Bota Biosciences has raised $100.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Bota Biosciences's investors include Sequoia Capital, AIX Ventures, Amadeus Capital Partners, Atomico, Dell Technologies Capital, Hitachi Ventures, Meituan, Sequoia Capital China, Greg Brockman, Paul Holland, Shane Neman, 5Y Capital.