San Francisco-based startup Anthrogen, founded by Ankit Singhal, Connor Lee, and Vignesh Karthik, recently secured $4 million in seed funding to further their mission of decarbonizing the supply chain and combating climate change through their biotech AI technology. The company, part of Y Combinator’s Summer 2024 batch, aims to use AI-designed enzymes to convert carbon dioxide in the air into complex chemicals and fuels.
The funding round was co-led by Regen Ventures and BoxGroup, with support from various other investors including Y Combinator, Wayfinder Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, Soma Capital, Ritual Capital, Collaborative Fund, and Pioneer Fund. Notable angels such as Paul Graham, Kulveer Taggar, Todd Goldberg, and Rahul Vohra’s Angel Fund also participated in the funding.
Anthrogen, formerly known as Arctic Capture, was founded by the three Columbia University students who are currently on leave to focus on the startup full-time. CEO Ankit Singhal, COO Vignesh Karthik, and CTO Connor Lee are leveraging CRISPR technology to genetically modify bacteria for carbon capture and to produce valuable fuels and chemicals.
Singhal mentioned that the $4 million funding will be used to enhance their research and development efforts in creating novel enzymes that can capture and convert carbon dioxide into essential fuels and everyday use molecules like plastic, starches, and cellulose. The startup’s ultimate goal is to provide carbon-free alternatives for jet fuel and other products while making them 80% more cost-effective than their fossil fuel counterparts.
An interesting aspect of Anthrogen’s approach is their use of genetically modified photosynthetic bacteria that can grow rapidly using sunlight and carbon dioxide. Singhal claims that they have developed the fastest known photosynthesizing organism on the planet.
The founders, Singhal, Lee, and Karthik, have impressive backgrounds in science and technology. Singhal, a Science Research Fellow Scholar at Columbia University, is majoring in molecular biophysics and applied mathematics. Lee, the youngest-ever president of Columbia Robotics, has extensive experience in robotics competitions and research. Karthik has conducted research in machine learning and geology at prestigious institutions like the Naval Research Laboratory and Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
The team’s decision to rebrand from Arctic Capture to Anthrogen reflects their shift in focus from just carbon capture to producing chemicals and transforming supply chains to be inherently carbon negative. With their innovative approach and strong investor support, Anthrogen is poised to make a significant impact in the biotech AI industry and contribute to the fight against climate change.
