Pivot Bio, founded in 2010, is a Berkeley-based (United States) crop tech and genomics company. It develops microbe-based nitrogen-fixing solutions for crops, providing farmers with sustainable, high-performing alternatives to synthetic fertilizers. Pivot Bio employs around 256 people and focuses on delivering predictable crop nutrition using engineered microorganisms compatible with diverse soil types, weather, and topography. Its platform supports commercial agriculture, aiming to improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and expand globally with research-driven innovations in microbial crop nutrition.
What Is Pivot Bio and What Does It Do?
Pivot Bio, founded in 2010, is a Berkeley-based (United States) Crop Tech / Genomics company.
With a team of approximately 256 employees as of December 2022, it develops microbe-based crop nutrition products that deliver nitrogen to plants via biological nitrogen fixation, specifically using engineered microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with corn roots, fixing atmospheric nitrogen directly in the field and eliminating or reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
The company uses an in-furrow method of application, and its solution is designed to perform regardless of topography, weather or soil type, serving farmers seeking both increased productivity and sustainability.
How Much Funding Has Pivot Bio Raised?
1. Seed
- Amount Raised: $0.75 M
- Date: October 2014
- Lead Investors: DCVC, Monsanto Growth Ventures (Seed stage)
- Motivation: To initiate the development of microbe-based nitrogen solutions.
2. Series A
- Amount Raised: $16 M
- Date: January 2016
- Lead Investors: DCVC, Prelude Ventures, Monsanto Growth Ventures
- Motivation: Commercialize first-generation microbial nitrogen solution for corn.
3. Series B
- Amount Raised: $71.3 M
- Date: October 2018
- Lead Investors: Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Temasek
- Motivation: Expand R&D, begin commercial rollout in the U.S., and entry into new markets.
4. Series C
- Amount Raised: $100 M
- Date: May 2020
- Lead Investors: Temasek, Breakthrough Energy, DCVC, Prelude Ventures, Pavilion Capital Partners
- Motivation: Scale production, expand product portfolio, and global presence.
5. Series D
- Amount Raised: $430 M
- Date: July 2021
- Lead Investors: DCVC, Temasek, Generation Investment Management, G2VP
- Motivation: Accelerate growth, scale manufacturing, and global market expansion.
Total Funding Raised: $618 Million
Current Valuation: $2 Billion (as of September 2021)
Latest Funding Date: July 2021
Key Investors
1. Generation Investment Management
- Details: London-based investment firm co-founded by Al Gore, focusing on sustainable investments.
- Investment Focus Areas: Climate tech, sustainable agriculture, clean energy infrastructure.
- Notable Investments: Pivot Bio, Beyond Meat, TerraCycle.
2. Temasek
- Details: Singapore sovereign wealth fund, active globally across sectors.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, sustainability, life sciences, and agriculture.
- Notable Investments: Pivot Bio, Klarna, Grab.
3. DCVC (Data Collective Venture Capital)
- Details: U.S. VC firm specialising in deep tech, biotech, and frontier science.
- Investment Focus Areas: Microbiology, AI, advanced materials, and sustainable agriculture.
- Notable Investments: Pivot Bio, Grammarly, Planet Labs.
Where Is Pivot Bio’s Headquarters?
Pivot Bio is headquartered in Berkeley, California, United States. This location places the company in proximity to major biotech research institutions (including UC Berkeley), a strong talent pool in life sciences and engineering, and vibrant venture capital ecosystems focused on climate tech and ag-tech.
What’s Next for Pivot Bio?
Pivot Bio aims to scale its microbial nitrogen-fixing platform from corn to other staple crops, such as wheat and rice, expand its manufacturing footprint, and grow international distribution beyond the U.S. The company faces challenges, including regulatory approvals in new geographies, competition from conventional fertiliser incumbents, and the need to educate farmers on the adoption of new microbial solutions.
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