Twig Funding: Accelerating Eco-Friendly Innovation with £3 Million Investment
September 11, 2023
Twig, a burgeoning bioengineering startup based in London, has secured an impressive £3 million in funding to pursue its ambitious mission of revolutionising the production of eco-friendly products at scale. In a world grappling with the ramifications of climate change and excessive resource consumption, innovative solutions are imperative to sustainably meet the needs of a burgeoning global population.
At the helm of Twig are visionaries Dr. Russ Tucker, Dr. James Allen, and Dr. Satnam Surae, who bring a wealth of expertise from their previous ventures, including UK cultivated meat pioneer Ivy Farm. Their shared goal is to harness the power of advanced technologies like AI and automation to accelerate the pace of bioengineering, offering affordable, scalable, and environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional ingredients derived from fossil fuels or intensive farming.
Dr. Tucker emphasises the urgency of their mission, stating, “Many of the biggest little ingredients that go into the products we use in our daily lives are hugely damaging for the planet. This needs to change, and this needs to happen fast.” Twig's innovative approach significantly streamlines the conventional bioengineering process, slashing development timelines from years to mere months while reducing costs substantially.
Central to Twig's methodology are three core technological pillars: Bio:Builder, Grow:Bot, and ML:Bridge. Bio:Builder serves as a cutting-edge biological tool for constructing the fundamental building blocks of sustainable ingredients. Grow:Bot, a programmable robotics system, facilitates the manipulation and analysis of thousands of bacterial variations each month. Complementing these advancements, ML:Bridge harnesses the power of AI to integrate and analyze vast datasets, optimizing production yields and recommending pathway improvements.
Twig's achievements during its stealth phase are remarkable. Leveraging its automated platform, the company has already tested thousands of strains within just five months, a feat that would traditionally require years and significant financial investment. The speed and efficiency of Twig's approach are underscored by its ability to swiftly identify promising ingredient strains, laying the groundwork for scalable, sustainable solutions.
Investors are eager to support Twig's groundbreaking endeavours, recognising the transformative potential of its AI-driven approach to bioengineering. Tom Wilson, a partner at one of Twig's investors, expresses confidence in the company's vision, stating, “The Twig team have the perfect combination of technical and domain expertise to make their vision a reality.”
Twig's £3 million seed round has attracted a diverse array of backers, including Project A, Zero Carbon Capital, UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund, Gaingels, and expert angels. This substantial investment underscores the industry's enthusiasm for Twig's innovative model and its potential to drive meaningful change in the bioengineering landscape.
Looking ahead, Twig is poised to disrupt the industry with its AI-first approach, challenging conventional paradigms and offering a pathway to a more sustainable future. By harnessing the power of technology and scientific innovation, Twig aims to create a portfolio of affordable, scalable, and eco-friendly ingredients that will catalyse a global transition towards more responsible consumption practices.
With a team of dedicated experts and a clear vision for the future, Twig is well-positioned to lead the charge towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious economy. As the demand for eco-friendly products continues to surge, Twig stands ready to deliver innovative solutions that benefit both people and the planet.