Paris-based biotechnology startup baCta has secured €7 million in seed funding to advance its vision of using engineered microorganisms as programmable molecular factories for industrial ingredients. The round was led by LocalGlobe and Daphni, with participation from OVNI Capital and business angels including founders of Phagos, Genomines, and MistralAI.
baCta’s proprietary platform, baCtaForge, combines synthetic biology, robotics, and generative AI to accelerate the design of microbial strains capable of producing complex molecules. Its first commercial target is astaxanthin, a high-value antioxidant widely used in health, nutrition, cosmetics, and animal feed. Using engineered yeast, baCta aims to offer a product that combines the quality of natural extraction with the cost efficiency of synthetic alternatives.
“We are entering a new era where microorganisms can be used as programmable molecular factories to synthesize organic molecules profitably at commercial scale. This investment allows us to reach industrial scale for our first ingredient,” said Mathieu Nohet, founder and CEO of baCta.
The funding will support pilot and commercial-scale production, partnerships with industrial manufacturers in France, and further development of the AI-powered baCtaForge platform. Beyond astaxanthin, baCta plans to expand into additional high-value molecules, with the broader goal of transforming industrial manufacturing by replacing extraction-based and petrochemical supply chains with scalable bio-based production systems.
