In a groundbreaking move, Cradle NV, a generative AI protein engineering specialist, has secured a whopping $24 million in Series A financing. Led by Index Ventures and Kindred Capital, with participation from notable angel investors, this funding showcases the industry’s confidence in Cradle’s innovative approach to protein-based product development.
About Cradle NV
Cradle, headquartered in Amsterdam, has emerged as a trailblazer in the field of AI-based protein engineering. Their platform significantly reduces both time and costs associated with Research and Development (R&D) processes, particularly in the design of protein-based products.
Cradle’s Achievements and Collaborations
Since its seed financing round in November 2022, Cradle has made remarkable strides, securing nine industry partners, including giants like Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Novozymes, and Twist Bioscience. The company is currently engaged in 13 R&D projects, spanning the engineering of enzymes, vaccines, peptide drugs, and antibodies. The focus lies on achieving various protein properties such as stability, expression, activity, binding affinity, and specificity.
Accelerating Innovation and Results
Cradle’s AI technology has demonstrated the ability to expedite the design and optimization of proteins, leading to results that are two times faster than industry benchmarks. Traditionally, R&D projects invest $22 million and 42 months to ready a single potential product for clinical testing. Cradle’s platform not only speeds up this process but also shows promise in foodtech protein discovery and development.
About the Funding
The $24 million Series A funding will propel Cradle’s growth, enabling them to expand their exceptional machine learning and biotech team. This investment will also fuel ongoing product development and sales capabilities. Currently, the team comprises 20 individuals split between Delft, The Netherlands, and Zurich, Switzerland, with plans for further expansion in 2024. Additional laboratory and engineering facilities in Amsterdam are also on the horizon to boost research acceleration.
Cradle’s Vision and Impact
Stef van Grieken, Cradle’s CEO and co-founder, emphasizes the company’s mission to make bio-based product development more accessible, quicker, and cost-effective. By leveraging generative AI and machine learning, Cradle aims to empower biologists in designing and optimizing proteins efficiently. The ultimate goal is to enhance health outcomes and minimize the environmental impact of human consumption.
Conclusion
Cradle‘s recent Series A funding marks a significant step toward realizing their mission. The fusion of cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships positions Cradle as a driving force in the synthetic biology market. The potential impact on health outcomes and environmental sustainability is immense, as Cradle continues to redefine the landscape of protein engineering.
FAQs
How does Cradle’s AI platform speed up protein design and optimization?
Cradle’s self-teaching, generative machine learning models utilize recent advances in ‘natural language processing’ to predict specific alterations in a protein’s genetic code. This significantly improves a scientist’s chances of obtaining the desired experimental results.
What sets Cradle apart from traditional protein engineering methods?
Unlike traditional trial-and-error-based processes, Cradle enables scientists to ‘reverse engineer’ proteins with desired properties, drastically reducing the time and resources needed for development.
How will Cradle utilize the Series A funding?
The funding will be used to accelerate Cradle’s growth, expand its team, invest in product development and sales capabilities, and build additional laboratory and engineering facilities in Amsterdam to enhance research capacity.
