Cascade Bio secures $6 million to advance biocatalysts

Cascade Bio will expand the delivery of its breakthrough biocatalysts, providing industrial partners with higher-performing enzymes

Cascade Bio, an industrial biotechnology company pioneering enzyme-based processes, has raised $6 million to accelerate the transition from petrochemicals to biomanufacturing.

The investment includes a $2.8 million seed round led by Endurance28 with participation from Stray Dog Capital, 1Flourish, Range Ventures, 10VC, and Amplify. In addition, the company received $3.2 million in nondilutive funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Advancing Cell-Free Systems Toward Increased Range of Use-Inspired Applications (NSF CFIRE) initiative and an SBIR Phase II award.

With this funding, Cascade Bio will expand the delivery of its breakthrough biocatalysts, providing industrial partners with higher-performing enzymes that significantly reduce costs and unlock new opportunities for biobased production. The company’s technology uses cost-effective materials to extend the functional lifespan of expensive enzymes. Enzymes that previously lost activity within hours are now able to maintain performance for months—an order of magnitude improvement that has the potential to transform the economics and usability of biocatalysis.

Cascade Bio has already applied its platform to more than 30 different enzymes, achieving 100 percent success in improving stability under challenging industrial conditions. To date, the company has collaborated with over 20 paying customers, including some of the world’s largest chemical, flavor and fragrance, food ingredient, and pharmaceutical companies.