Alexandria Venture Investments

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.

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.

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.

CIBO Technologies, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing software products to model and simulate agricultural ecosystems, aimed at enhancing sustainable practices in agriculture. Its key offerings include Continuum DB, a distributed database for spatio-temporal modeling; BarnCAT, a computational agronomy toolkit; WhetherRain, an integrated weather simulation tool; and DirtPatch, a platform for environmental reconstruction. Additionally, CIBO provides TerraFarm for planetary-scale simulations and the Land Intelligence platform, which generates insights on agricultural parcels while offering access to publicly available data for various stakeholders in the agriculture sector. The company's solutions are designed to support a wide range of crops and serve multiple industries, including farm services, agribusiness, and sustainability. Founded in 2014 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Saint Louis, East Lansing, and Minneapolis, CIBO aims to advance food system resilience and improve grower outcomes in the face of climate change.

Tiamat Sciences is a start-up focused on producing affordable, animal-free growth factors and biomolecules through innovative plant-based bioreactors. Utilizing proprietary technology, the company manufactures a diverse array of high-value proteins, including antigens and growth factors, achieving significant cost reductions—up to 10 times lower than traditional methods, with potential for further reductions at scale. This technology not only enhances production efficiency but also supports ecological sustainability by providing plant-based alternatives to animal-derived materials in the pharmaceutical industry. Tiamat's approach increases the safety and speed of production, positioning it as a strategic partner for scaling operations in burgeoning sectors such as cellular agriculture and gene therapy. The low capital investment required for facility setup makes Tiamat an attractive option in a market poised for substantial growth.

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.

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.

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.

Gencove specializes in a software platform for efficient and cost-effective genome sequencing using low-pass sequencing methods. This enables high-throughput genomics research and diagnostics across various species.

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.

Boragen Inc. is a biotechnology company specializing in the design and development of multifunctional small molecule boron solutions for crop protection, animal health, and human health applications. Its pipeline includes products like BAG8, a boron-based multisite fungicide for crops, and BN2266, an innovative MOA crop protection fungicide targeting mRNA processing.