Spore.bio Secures $23M Funding for AI-Powered Microbiology

The Critical Impact of Food and Beverage Recalls

Contamination incidents within the food and beverage sector can prove devastating for businesses. Companies face not only financial penalties and legal damages, but also potentially enduring harm to their brand reputation.

Spore.Bio: Reinventing Microbiology Testing

Recognizing this challenge, Spore.Bio, a deep tech startup headquartered in Paris, is focused on revolutionizing microbiology testing. Their aim is to proactively mitigate potential public relations crises within the food industry.

The company has recently secured $23 million in a Series A funding round. This follows an earlier €8 million pre-seed round, raised just over a year prior (equivalent to $8.3 million based on current exchange rates).

Investment Details

Singular led this investment round. Participation also came from Point72 Ventures, 1st Kind Ventures (the family office associated with the Peugeot family), Station F, and Lord David Prior.

Existing investors, including LocalGlobe, No Label Ventures, and Famille C, also contributed to this funding success.

Rapid Growth and Customer Demand

Spore.Bio’s ability to secure funding so quickly after its pre-seed round is a direct result of substantial customer interest. The startup has already established commercial agreements encompassing up to 200 factories.

Demand has been so high that Spore.Bio implemented a waitlist to manage incoming requests.

The Limitations of Traditional Microbiology Tests

Conventional microbiology tests in the food and beverage industry typically require several days to complete. Samples must be sent to specialized laboratories for analysis.

This off-site testing is necessary because traditional petri-dish methods involve cultivating potential bacteria, posing a contamination risk to other areas of the facility. Furthermore, bacterial incubation requires significant time.

Addressing Inefficiencies in the Agri-Food Sector

“In 2022, we observe widespread optimization across industries, with lean manufacturing principles applied to streamline processes and minimize turnaround times,” explains Amine Raji, co-founder and CEO of Spore.Bio, in an interview with TechCrunch.

“However, the agri-food sector still relies on a 5-day testing process, while the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries face even longer waits of up to 14 days, simply to allow bacteria to grow.”

Spore.Bio’s Innovative Technology

Spore.Bio employs a fundamentally different approach. The company directs light at specific wavelengths onto a sample and analyzes the resulting spectral signature.

A pre-trained deep learning algorithm then identifies the presence of any bacteria or pathogens within the sample.

The Power of the Algorithm and Data Access

This algorithm represents Spore.Bio’s core intellectual property. To enhance its capabilities, the startup has formed a strategic partnership with the Pasteur Institute.

This collaboration provides access to the Institute’s extensive collection of bacterial samples.

On-Site Testing and Reduced Turnaround Times

Spore.Bio is currently developing testing machines for deployment directly within customer facilities. This will enable on-site microbiology testing.

The company asserts that its process dramatically reduces testing time, from days to just minutes.

From Manufacturing Engineer to Startup Founder

Prior to establishing Spore.Bio, Raji worked as a food and beverage manufacturing engineer at Nestlé. He initially focused on the industry he understood best.

However, it became apparent that the market for microbiology testing extended far beyond the food sector.

Expanding Applications Beyond Food and Beverage

Manufacturers of cosmetic products have also shown considerable interest in Spore.Bio’s technology. “Demand for preservative-free products is increasing, driven by consumer preferences and environmental concerns,” Raji notes.

“However, preservatives are, fundamentally, bacteria-killing agents.”

The pharmaceutical industry has also identified potential applications for Spore.Bio’s advanced testing capabilities. “There’s a growing need, particularly for innovative therapies like gene and cell therapy,” Raji explains.

He adds that these therapies often have limited shelf lives – sometimes as short as seven days – making traditional testing methods impractical.

Future Growth and Team Expansion

With the recent funding, Spore.Bio plans to expand its team from 30 to 50 employees by the end of 2025.