Geno
Americas
San Diego
,
United States
Established
FOUNDED
2000
HEADCOUNT
101-500
FUNDING
Series D+
Keywords:
precision_fermentation, metabolic_engineering, synthetic_biology, commodity_chemicals, specialty_chemicals, lipids, biosurfactants
BUSINESS
Geno (formerly Genomatica) is a San Diego-based industrial biotechnology company founded in 1998 by Christophe Schilling and Bernhard Palsson, focused on developing and licensing fermentation-based manufacturing processes for chemicals and materials. Key commercial partnerships include Qore (Cargill/HELM joint venture, a Bio-BDO plant in Iowa), Hyosung ($1B investment for Bio-BDO plants in Vietnam for bio-based spandex), Aquafil and Sojitz (plant-based nylon-6), Lululemon, and a $120M+ venture with Unilever/L'Oréal/Kao for palm oil alternatives (Future Origins)
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Core to industrial biotechnology. Geno's core competency is metabolic engineering of microorganisms to ferment plant sugars into chemical intermediates, with a technology licensing model. The GENO Bio-BDO process (1,4-butanediol) is now fully commercial with multiple licensees operating at tens-of-thousands-of-tonnes scale. The company is also advancing plant-based nylon-6 (caprolactam via fermentation, pre-commercial with Aquafil), bio-based surfactant/emollient ingredients (Brontide butylene glycol), and sustainable palm oil alternatives.
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
precision fermentation; synthetic biology; metabolic engineering
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Geno Bio-BDO; plant-based nylon-6 intermediates; bio-glycol