# Steve Sibulkin

> Steve Sibulkin is the CEO and board member of BioLumic, a New Zealand-and-US agtech company that uses precise UV light signals to switch on genetic traits in seeds without genetic modification. A repeat CEO with a background bridging advertising strategy and agriculture, he earlier co-founded and led Agronomic Technology Corp, maker of the Adapt-N nitrogen tool, which was acquired by fertilizer giant Yara International. He now leads BioLumic's push to commercialize xTraits, light-programmed seed traits it says can cut years and up to 90% of the cost out of traditional trait development across corn, soybean, rice and forage.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at BioLumic
- **Organizations:** BioLumic, Agronomic Technology Corp, Yara International, Sapient, Ogilvy & Mather, Mainspring
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- **Known for:** Led BioLumic to launch xTraits, described as the world's first seed traits activated purely by precise light signals, Closed an oversubscribed $8.3M Series B Extension in April 2025 with investors including the Fonterra-backed Ki Tua Fund, Azolla Ventures and iSelect Fund, As CEO of Agronomic Technology Corp, scaled the Adapt-N tool to industry-standard status and ran over one billion agronomic simulations before the company was acquired by Yara International

## Career timeline

- **—** — Held leadership positions at Mainspring, Sapient and Ogilvy & Mather
- **—** — Co-founded and became CEO of Agronomic Technology Corp, commercializing the Adapt-N nitrogen recommendation tool developed at Cornell University
- **—** — Agronomic Technology Corp acquired by Yara International; led digital and sustainability initiatives at Yara
- **2020** — Appointed CEO of BioLumic
- **2024** — BioLumic named an Agriculture finalist for Fast Company World Changing Ideas; announced seed-major partnerships including Beck's Hybrids
- **2025** — Closed oversubscribed $8.3M Series B Extension; launched first commercial xTraits Activation System at Gro Alliance

## Achievements

- Led BioLumic to launch xTraits, described as the world's first seed traits activated purely by precise light signals
- Closed an oversubscribed $8.3M Series B Extension in April 2025 with investors including the Fonterra-backed Ki Tua Fund, Azolla Ventures and iSelect Fund
- As CEO of Agronomic Technology Corp, scaled the Adapt-N tool to industry-standard status and ran over one billion agronomic simulations before the company was acquired by Yara International
- Oversaw field trials showing over 20% yield gains in hybrid corn and 8% in inbred lines
- Guided BioLumic to activate traits across 12 different crops

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — BioLumic closed an oversubscribed $8.3M Series B Extension to accelerate commercialization of its xTraits light-activated seed traits.
- **2025-06** — Sibulkin appeared on the Ground Breaking Podcast discussing seeding healthier plants through light activation.
- **2025-12** — BioLumic expanded its UV seed-trait work into Latin America, partnering with seed companies in Brazil and Chile.

## Links

- Website: https://biolumic.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sibulkin/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/biolumic
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSUBgLXG9gk

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/steve-sibulkin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-08