San Francisco-based biotech startup Anthrogen has raised $4 million in seed funding to advance its pioneering approach to chemical production using CO₂-consuming microbes and cutting-edge AI. The funding round, co-led by Regen Ventures and BoxGroup, also saw participation from Y Combinator, Wayfinder, and notable investors, including Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham.

Anthrogen’s mission is straightforward yet ambitious: leverage genetically engineered microbes and AI-designed enzymes to create critical chemicals and fuels directly from atmospheric CO₂. This approach has the potential to reshape the $4.7 trillion chemical industry, providing a carbon-negative solution to one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

At the core of Anthrogen's technology lies an innovation in microbial engineering centered on a photosynthetic microorganism engineered through CRISPR to reach unprecedented growth rates. This unique organism captures sunlight and atmospheric CO₂, initiating enzyme-driven reactions that yield valuable chemicals—offering a process that’s not only more sustainable but also cost-competitive with traditional petroleum-based methods.

“Our goal is to produce fuels and chemicals at 80% of the cost of fossil fuel-derived products,” Anthrogen states. “Achieving true sustainability means developing green solutions that are financially viable as well as environmentally beneficial.”

Unlike other companies in the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sector, such as Twelve and Air Company, which rely on high-energy electrochemical processes, Anthrogen’s biological pathway holds the promise of greater energy efficiency and scalability. The startup’s proprietary AI models are integral to optimizing enzyme sequences, a process that could potentially lead to higher yields and cost savings, setting it apart from other solutions.

Founded in 2023 as Arctic Capture, Anthrogen has since pivoted toward transforming carbon into sustainable chemicals. With the newly secured funding, the company is focused on scaling its AI-driven R&D platform to further refine its microbial and enzymatic processes, paving the way for a commercially viable, carbon-negative alternative to traditional chemical production.

This venture arrives at a crucial moment, as the chemical sector contributes nearly 20% of global CO₂ emissions. By offering a competitive, carbon-negative alternative to petroleum-based products, Anthrogen aims not only to meet the rising demand for sustainable chemical solutions but to make a significant environmental impact along the way.