baCta, a Paris-based industrial biotechnology startup developing AI-driven bioproduction systems, has raised €7 million in Seed funding to scale its precision fermentation platform.
The round was led by LocalGlobe and Daphni, with participation from OVNI Capital and angel investors including founders of Phagos, Genomines, and Mistral AI. The capital will support pilot and commercial validation of its first ingredient and further expansion of its strain engineering technology.
What The Company Does
Founded in 2024 by Mathieu Nohet and Marie Rouquette, baCta combines synthetic biology, robotics, and generative AI to engineer microorganisms as programmable molecular factories. The company’s objective is to enable cost-efficient and scalable production of high-value industrial ingredients through precision fermentation.
Its proprietary platform, baCtaForge, integrates a Precision Biofoundry with a Genome-to-Factory AI model to accelerate strain design and optimisation. By exploring genomic “dark matter,” including long-range interactions and regulatory pathways often overlooked by traditional approaches, the system aims to reduce reliance on time-intensive trial-and-error experimentation.
Using bio-based reinforcement learning, baCta seeks to shorten development cycles and lower production costs while increasing strain yield and stability. The company positions its technology as a pathway to make bioproduction commercially competitive with petrochemical manufacturing.
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Market Context / Industry Background
Demand for specialty molecules used in health, nutrition, cosmetics, and animal feed continues to grow, while traditional production methods face increasing scrutiny. Petrochemical synthesis and extraction from limited natural sources are often exposed to supply chain volatility, climate-related disruptions, and regulatory pressure tied to environmental impact.
Although bioproduction has long been viewed as a more sustainable alternative, industrial strain development has historically been slow and capital-intensive. Advances in AI and automation are now reshaping the field, enabling more predictive and scalable strain engineering processes.
As industries look to reduce reliance on fossil-based inputs, precision fermentation platforms capable of delivering cost parity with conventional methods are gaining attention from investors and manufacturers seeking resilient supply chains.
Founder / Investor Commentary
Founder and CEO Mathieu Nohet stated that advances in synthetic biology and AI are enabling microorganisms to function as programmable production systems at commercial scale. He noted that the new funding will allow the company to industrialise its first ingredient and validate its AI-driven approach to strain optimisation.
Pierre-Yves Meerschman, co-founder and Managing Partner at Daphni, highlighted the importance of transitioning away from petrochemical supply chains. He described baCta’s platform model as a scalable and economically viable approach to building biological production systems that align with long-term industrial sustainability goals.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The funding will primarily support the scale-up of baCta’s first product, astaxanthin, a widely used antioxidant found in human health, cosmetics, and animal nutrition markets. Current supply is dominated by synthetic petrochemical-derived versions or costly extraction from microalgae. baCta is developing a proprietary yeast strain designed to deliver a drop-in replacement that combines competitive pricing with natural-grade quality.
The company plans to validate its production process at pilot and commercial levels, supported by a strategic partnership with a French industrial manufacturing player that provides access to production infrastructure. In parallel, baCta will continue expanding its baCtaForge platform to accelerate development of additional high-value molecules.
About baCta
baCta is a Paris-based industrial biotechnology company founded in 2024. The company develops AI-powered precision fermentation platforms that combine synthetic biology, robotics, and generative AI to engineer microbial strains for sustainable, scalable production of high-value industrial ingredients.
