# Industrial Microbes (iMicrobes)

> Industrial Microbes (iMicrobes) is an Alameda, California synthetic-biology company that engineers programmable microbes to turn renewable, low-carbon feedstocks - primarily ethanol and methane - into drop-in chemicals and materials such as 100% bio-based acrylic acid, acrylonitrile and carbon fiber precursors. Founded in 2014, the company aims to give chemical producers and consumer brands a cost-competitive, lower-carbon alternative to petrochemicals, and has scaled its bioprocess to a pilot bioreactor producing 10+ kg per run.

- **Founded:** 2014
- **Headquarters:** Alameda, California, United States
- **Founders:** Noah Helman (Co-founder & CEO), Derek Greenfield (Co-founder & President), Elizabeth Clarke (Co-founder & CTO)
- **Team size:** ~16 employees
- **Products:** 100% bio-based acrylic acid, Bio-based acrylonitrile & carbon fiber precursors, Gas / feedstock fermentation platform, Biopolymers & bio-based materials
- **Notable:** 22+ patents on microbial strains and bioprocesses, Developed two distinct pathways to bio-based acrylic acid (from ethanol and from methane), Produced 100% bio-based acrylic acid at pilot scale (10+ kg per bioreactor run)

## Products & services

- **100% bio-based acrylic acid** — Acrylic acid produced from renewable ethanol, used in paints, coatings, adhesives and superabsorbent polymers (e.g. diapers), scaled to a pilot bioreactor producing 10+ kg per run.
- **Bio-based acrylonitrile & carbon fiber precursors** — Pathways to produce acrylonitrile and sustainable carbon fiber feedstocks from renewable and waste streams.
- **Gas / feedstock fermentation platform** — Programmable, patented microbial strains that convert ethanol and methane into drop-in chemicals and advanced materials; strain engineering accelerated ~3x for commercial use.
- **Biopolymers & bio-based materials** — Additional bio-based building blocks and polymers derived from the company's microbial conversion platform.

## Achievements

- 22+ patents on microbial strains and bioprocesses
- Developed two distinct pathways to bio-based acrylic acid (from ethanol and from methane)
- Produced 100% bio-based acrylic acid at pilot scale (10+ kg per bioreactor run)
- Raised $10M+ seed round led by First Bight Ventures and UMI
- Accelerated microbial strain engineering roughly 3x for commercial applications
- Advisory board including LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren and Lygos COO Johan van Walsem

## Latest updates

- **2024-11** — Announced first close of seed round, bringing total investment to over $10M, led by First Bight Ventures with UMI.
- **2024-10** — Latest funding tranche reported (~$1.55M) as part of the seed raise.
- **2024-01** — Reported scaling its bioprocess to produce 100% bio-based acrylic acid at pilot bioreactor scale (10+ kg per run).

## Links

- Website: https://imicrobes.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/industrial-microbes
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/iMicrobesInc

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/imicrobes
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-05