Draft:Prolific Machines

Prolific Machines is a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California, developing light-based applications for food ingredients, nutritional proteins, and pharmaceuticals.

History
Prolific Machines, originally known as Gaia Labs, was founded in 2020 by Deniz Kent, Max Huisman, and Declan Jones. The company joined the IndieBio accelerator the same year and secured $4 million in seed funding. In 2023, Prolific Machines moved to its current headquarters in Emeryville, California. In 2024, Prolific Machines introduced a new photo molecular biology platform designed for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Prolific Machines secured $86.5 million in funding between 2020 and 2024 from investors including Ki Tua Fund, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield, and IndieBio.

Technology
Prolific Machines develops a photosmolecular biology platform using optogenetics. This technology employs light-sensitive proteins, proprietary hardware, and AI to control cellular functions like receptor activation, gene expression, and metabolism. The company holds patents and academic licenses for its core technology.