Ribbon Bio, a synthetic biology company and our New Biotech Platforms group member, specialises in DNA synthesis. By pushing the frontiers of science, this Vienna-based company innovates with partners to leverage the power of synthetic biology for solutions towards the health of people and planet.
There is a critical demand across multiple industries for high-complexity synthetic molecules that existing technologies cannot meet. Ribbon Bio takes customer-specified DNA sequences, regardless of their complexity or length, and constructs them with utmost accuracy. While many competitors focus on smaller DNA fragments, Ribbon Bio distinguishes itself by its ability to synthesise longer DNA sequences, up to 20 kilobase pairs (kbp), without compromising accuracy or complexity.
We spoke to Ribbon Bio’s Associate Vice President of Product, Divya Vijay Pratheek, about the company’s founding story, biggest challenges and greatest milestones.
Ribbon Bio caters to a wide range of customers in fields like biopharma, agricultural biology, and gene editing. Their synthetic DNA assembly technology enables scientists to create the exact molecules they need, which is crucial for developing new medicines, engineering drought-resistant crops, and protecting endangered species.
The company sees a future filled with yet unknown applications for synthetic biology, especially with advancements like AI-powered protein discovery tools. Ribbon Bio aims to bridge the gap between scientific ideas and their practical applications, contributing to a healthier planet and groundbreaking discoveries. Divya Pratheek explains:
"The pace of scientific advancement is astonishing, but researchers often face limitations in synthesising the ideal molecules. At Ribbon Bio, we empower scientists by providing the tools to create any molecule they envision."
The synthetic biology market is vast and diverse, accommodating various players with distinct approaches – each perceived competitor is doing a slightly different thing. Ribbon Bio even views some competitors as potential collaborators, identifying opportunities for complementary strengths and joint development projects.
While larger, established companies may have a more established product portfolio, Ribbon Bio's agility and innovative spirit as a startup allow it to respond to market demands and develop cutting-edge solutions rapidly. This dynamic approach positions Ribbon Bio as a key player in the fast-evolving synthetic biology landscape.
Ribbon Bio's journey began in 2018 when co-founders Drs. Harold P. de Vladar and Wladimir Labeikovsky encountered significant challenges in acquiring specific DNA sequences from existing vendors. This frustration ignited the idea of creating a company that could synthesise any desired DNA molecule.
They proposed a novel approach – using machine learning algorithms to break down complex DNA sequences into smaller, synthesizable fragments. Emerging from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) with the support of xista ventures and tecnet, Ribbon Bio was born.
Today, Ribbon Bio has assembled a strong leadership team with a wealth of industry experience. Jodi Barrientos, the current CEO, brings over a decade of expertise from renowned companies such as Agilent, Roche, and QIAGEN. Similarly, Divya Pratheek and CTO John Luckey, add extensive industry knowledge to the leadership team. Dr. Labeikovsky is Ribbon Bio’s Head of Data Operations.
One of the biggest challenges for a growing biotech company like Ribbon Bio is transitioning from a research-focused mindset to a commercially driven one. It's a balancing act between pursuing innovative ideas and ensuring operational efficiency. Now, the company is seeking additional funding through a Series B round, planned for the near future, which will fuel its commercialisation efforts and allow it to offer its cutting-edge technology to a broader audience of scientists and researchers worldwide.
Despite its relatively small size, Ribbon Bio's innovative product has generated significant demand. Ribbon Bio has successfully launched an early access program that has played a pivotal role in shaping its product development strategy. The company has gained valuable insights into customer needs and market trends by collaborating closely with key partners in the biopharma and gene editing industries.
Another challenge is adjusting to the rapidly evolving landscape of the industry. As a young company, Ribbon Bio is constantly adapting to new regulations, technological advancements, and emerging applications. Recently, the company achieved a significant milestone by fulfilling compliance with the US Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (“OSTP”), as well as industry biosecurity standards.
Ribbon Bio joined the EIC Scaling Club’s second cohort, a decision influenced by advice from investors. The scale-up’s team believes this network will be instrumental in accelerating its growth and achieving its ambitious goals.
The Scale 100 Forum in Athens provided a valuable platform for Ribbon Bio to connect with other European deep tech scale-ups. “The two days we spent in Athens were exceptionally useful”, says Divya. She continues:
"It's amazing how much you can learn from others who are on a similar path. Talking to other startups from different countries really opened our eyes to the challenges we all face, like breaking into the US market. It's great to know we're not alone in this. Also, some EIC mentors have extensive experience in big pharma and can give us invaluable advice."
She adds that the EIC Scaling Club has proved to be a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and mentorship from experienced industry professionals.
The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.
The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.
The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.
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