Biotech startup Cellivate Technologies has successfully raised $1 million in its seed funding round, led by Antler and supported by Venture Catalysts, Hatcher+, and We Founder Circle.

The funding will be directed towards advancing research and development, scaling up production of its pioneering products, and expanding its market presence. Founded by Viknish Krishnan Kutty, Cellivate Technologies is focused on overcoming significant challenges in cell culture and biomanufacturing.

The company’s flagship innovations include cutting-edge microcarriers designed to enhance cell growth scalability and a novel cell-based serum that aims to replace traditional fetal bovine serum. These advancements address both efficiency and ethical concerns in cell culture processes.

Market analysis predicts that the cell culture market, including microcarriers and serum, will reach $33 billion by 2030. Cellivate Technologies’ solutions are poised to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and minimize reliance on animal-derived products, contributing to a more sustainable and ethical biomanufacturing landscape.