We’re pleased to share that our portfolio company, Fermbox Bio, a pioneer in precision fermentation, has entered a strategic joint venture with Bio-Based Green Innovation (BBGI) to establish the first commercial CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) plant in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Fermbox Bio, founded in 2022 by an experienced biotech entrepreneur Subramani Ramachandrappa, is a Synbio (synthetic biology) company with the primary focus on sustainable production of animal-free alternatives to products such as lipids, colours, flavours, proteins, and green chemistry products. They cater to sectors including nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and food.
The company specialises in mitigating supply chain risks by delivering sustainable and ethical Synbio solutions. Their 'lab-to-launch' approach accelerates the introduction of next-gen Synbio products, enhancing scalability and cost-efficiency.
Fermbox Bio engages in extensive global collaborations aimed at product development, scaling up operations, and bringing innovations to the market. They provide tailored solutions to address unique challenges within various industries. Earlier this year, Fermbox Bio entered into a strategic partnership with Dyadic International Inc., harnessing Dyadic's fungal-based protein production platform and combining it with Fermbox Bio's proficiency in product development and process engineering. This collaboration is dedicated to creating sustainable, animal-free alternative proteins and biomaterials.
The partnership between Fermbox Bio and BBGI will focus on large-scale Synbio manufacturing, with an initial investment exceeding 13 million USD. Fermbox Bio will contribute its expertise in Synbio and manufacturing processes, while BBGI will provide its large-scale project execution, operational experience, and funding.
The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant will initially produce enzymes and expand to include cutting-edge Synbio products. The investment in the plant will be carried out in 3 phases, with an expected total fermentation capacity of up to 1 million litres and phase 1 starting at an installed capacity of around 200,000 litres.
Additionally, Fermbox Bio will produce cellulose hydrolysing enzymes for Indian 2G ethanol manufacturing companies at the joint venture facility. The joint venture, BBFB (BBGI and Fermbox Bio), is expected to significantly boost the Thai biotechnology industry, a key focus of the government's New S-Curve economic development plan.
"We are excited to partner with BBGI to develop state-of-the-art biotechnology plants. Our mutual dedication lies in shaping a collaborative future in which sustainable Synbio solutions play a pivotal role, meeting the evolving needs of future generations while safeguarding our planet. BBGI's commitment to a sustainable future aligns with our core business model, which focuses on collaborating with companies worldwide for product development, manufacturing, and commercialisation. We firmly believe that the Synbio industry's future hinges on global collaborations to achieve the necessary scale as we work towards replacing traditional supply chains rooted in forest products, animals, or environmentally taxing petrochemical processes." commented Mr. Subramani (suBBu) Ramachandrappa, Founder of Fermbox Bio.
The company's precision fermentation platform enables the production of enzymes, proteins, and other chemicals without the need for traditional agriculture or petrochemical processes. This reduces the environmental impact of manufacturing while also improving efficiency and quality.
Together with BBGI, Fermbox Bio is dedicated to shaping a more sustainable future through innovation, collaboration, and responsible business practices.
Fermbox Bio is a precision fermentation company that produces sustainable and climate-friendly products. We believe that Fermbox Bio is well-positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for these products, as the company’s proprietary platform enables it to produce a wide range of products, including low-value/high-volume products, cost-effectively.
Fermbox Bio addresses two key challenges facing the Synbio industry: product-only companies cannot rely on Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) because it is not cost-effective, and CMOs struggle to offer one-size-fits-all solutions for bio-manufacturing.
The company is strategically poised to tap into the surging demand for sustainable and cruelty-free products, as the global precision fermentation market is projected to reach $36.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 48.1% from 2022 to 2030.
With its strong team, deep expertise in bio-manufacturing, and key industry partnerships, we are confident that Fermbox Bio has the potential to become a leading player in the precision fermentation market.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed herein are those of the author as of the publication date and are subject to change without notice. Neither the author nor any of the entities under the 3one4 Capital Group have any obligation to update the content. This publications are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as providing any advisory service (including financial, regulatory, or legal). It does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or related financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Readers should perform their own due diligence and consult with relevant advisors before taking any decisions. Any reliance on the information herein is at the reader's own risk, and 3one4 Capital Group assumes no liability for any such reliance.Certain information is based on third-party sources believed to be reliable, but neither the author nor 3one4 Capital Group guarantees its accuracy, recency or completeness. There has been no independent verification of such information or the assumptions on which such information is based, unless expressly mentioned otherwise. References to specific companies, securities, or investment strategies are not endorsements. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of this document, in whole or in part, is prohibited without prior written consent from the author and/or the 3one4 Capital Group.
At 3one4 Capital, the team has intentionally built a long-term commitment to responsible investing and to support the evolution of an ecosystem conducive to RI. This active commitment has helped the firm secure the signatory status to the UN PRI.
3one4 Capital has been ranked by Preqin, a global reference database for asset management, as India’s top performer for two of its funds, in the recent Alternative Assets report. The seed and early-stage funds managed by the firm have been recognized for their performance amongst the India-focused venture capital funds in this Asia Pacific-focused report published in 2021. With industry-leading Net IRRs, 3one4 Capital’s Rising I & Fund II are the top two amongst the best performing India-focused VC funds between the vintage years, 2010- 2018.