GigaCrop

GigaCrop is a Berkeley, California-based plant biology company founded in 2020 by scientist and entrepreneur Chris Eiben, PhD, that uses machine learning and enzyme engineering to reinvent photosynthesis and dramatically increase crop yields. By engineering faster, more efficient versions of the Rubisco enzyme — the bottleneck of photosynthesis — GigaCrop aims to double crop output without requiring additional land, water, or fertilizer inputs. The company raised a $4.5 million pre-seed round led by Playground Global and has received over $2.7 million in grants from ARPA-E, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Grantham Foundation.