StrainX Bioworks Raises $13 Mn to Scale Alternative Protein Manufacturing
Advertisement
The funding round also saw participation from Good Startup, Sparrow Capital, Sun Icon Ventures, Dholakia Ventures, and WindT Angels.
StrainX Bioworks has raised $13 million (approximately ₹124 crore) in a funding round led by Prime Venture Partners and Leo Capital to expand its alternative protein manufacturing operations.
The funding round also saw participation from Good Startup, Sparrow Capital, Sun Icon Ventures, Dholakia Ventures, and WindT Angels.
Founded in 2023 by IIT Delhi alumni Akshay Mittal and Alok Malaviya, StrainX develops alternative proteins using synthetic biology and precision fermentation technologies. The company focuses on producing proteins from non-animal sources for applications across food, nutrition, cosmetics, and materials.
The startup plans to use the fresh capital to expand capacity at its bio-manufacturing fermentation facility in Bhopal and begin commercial-scale production. A portion of the investment will also be allocated toward strengthening its research and development center in Bengaluru through new hiring and technology upgrades.
StrainX currently operates a 10,000-liter fermentation facility in Bhopal and said it aims to increase capacity tenfold over the next two years.
The company works by engineering microbes such as bacteria, yeast, and fungal cells to produce targeted protein outputs. These processes are then scaled through precision fermentation in controlled manufacturing environments.
According to cofounder Akshay Mittal, India currently lacks sufficient high-quality precision fermentation infrastructure for non-pharmaceutical applications such as food proteins and specialty ingredients, creating a market opportunity for companies in the segment.
StrainX said it has already secured approval in the United States to commercialize its products and is seeking regulatory clearances in India.
The company currently employs around 100 people across its manufacturing operations in Bhopal and R&D functions in Bengaluru. It plans to double its workforce to 200 employees by the end of the current financial year while expanding into additional scientific verticals.
The funding comes amid increased policy focus on India’s biotechnology sector. In the Union Budget earlier this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI scheme to support biological research and biotech innovation.
India’s bioeconomy, currently home to more than 11,000 biotech startups, is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.
Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News
