yeast-fermentation
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BIOMEDICAN Skipped the CBD Gold Rush and Taught Oily Yeast to Make the Scarce Stuff
The Fremont biotech says its engineered Yarrowia yeast can brew rare cannabinoids in days at 70-90% below conventional costs. The clever part is not cannabis at all - it is a reusable fermentation platform, and the hard part is proving that lab economics survive the factory floor.
The Fuel Startup Betting a Molecule Can Just Float Out of the Tank
Most biofuels get stuck in the same trap: make the alcohol, then spend a fortune pulling it out of the water. A four-person Houston team engineered a yeast whose product simply volatilizes away - and they think that changes the math.
Helaina
Helaina is a New York-based biotechnology company using precision fermentation to produce human-equivalent bioactive proteins. Its first commercial product, effera, is a human-identical lactoferrin made in yeast that matches the amino acid sequence of the protein found in mother's milk. Founded in 2019 by food scientist Laura Katz, Helaina sells effera as a B2B ingredient to consumer wellness and supplement brands, targeting women's health, gut health, active nutrition and healthy aging. The company has raised roughly $84 million in equity funding, including a $45 million Series B in 2024.