# Number 8 Bio

> Number 8 Bio is a Sydney-based agtech and climate startup building BetterFeed, a low-cost feed additive and slow-release rumen bolus that cuts enteric methane from cattle and sheep by up to 90% in trials while recapturing wasted feed energy to lift animal productivity. After pivoting from yeast biomanufacturing to synthetic-chemistry small molecules, the company targets grass-fed grazing systems - about 95% of Australia's livestock - and has raised roughly A$18 million to move toward commercial release.

- **Founded:** 2022
- **Headquarters:** Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- **Founders:** Dr. Tom Williams (CEO and Co-Founder), Dr. Alex Carpenter (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~25 employees
- **Products:** BetterFeed (bolus), BetterFeed (feed additive)
- **Notable:** Cut enteric methane up to 90% in total-mixed-ration trials and ~50% in grass-fed bolus trials, Raised roughly A$18M total across pre-seed, seed and Series A by late 2025, Won the Positive Impact Award at the UNSW SynBio 10X Accelerator (2022)

## Products & services

- **BetterFeed (bolus)** — A slow-release rumen bolus that sits in the animal's stomach for up to six months, steadily releasing an organic small-molecule methane inhibitor with prebiotics. Designed for grass-fed cattle and sheep that can't be dosed daily, it cut methane up to 90% in trials and recaptures energy otherwise lost as methane to support growth and stocking rates.
- **BetterFeed (feed additive)** — A methane-reducing feed supplement for total mixed ration and milking-shed feeding scenarios, using non-bromoform synthetic small molecules manufactured via synthetic chemistry for low cost and feed-system compatibility.

## Achievements

- Cut enteric methane up to 90% in total-mixed-ration trials and ~50% in grass-fed bolus trials
- Raised roughly A$18M total across pre-seed, seed and Series A by late 2025
- Won the Positive Impact Award at the UNSW SynBio 10X Accelerator (2022)
- Backed BetterFeed with 24+ trials across Australian conditions
- Built a pre-launch waitlist of 28+ producers representing ~2M head of livestock

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Closed an A$11M Series A led by Icehouse Ventures with Main Sequence and ONE Innovators to advance BetterFeed toward commercial release.
- **2025-12** — Series A widely reported; company targeting commercial-scale trials in 2026 and potential sale in 2027.
- **2024-09** — Raised A$7M seed round to scale methane-reducing feed additives and stand up Sydney manufacturing.

## Links

- Website: https://number8.bio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/number-8-bio/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/number-8-bio
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-25