Zelixir Bio Secures Over RMB 100 Million in Series A Funding to Build Next-Gen AI-Driven Synthetic Biology Manufacturing Platform

Recently, Zelixir (Shanghai Zhiyu Biotechnology Co., Ltd.), a pioneer in reconstructing the entire synthetic biology process through AI technology, announced the completion of an over RMB 100 million Series A financing round. This round was led by Qingdao Qingchi Venture Capital Fund, with participation from Huimei Capital, Hongfeng Investment, and Qiantang Venture Capital. Life Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor for this round. The funds will be used to strengthen R&D and advance the company’s synthetic biology pipeline.

It is reported that after this round of financing, Zelixir will further cultivate "AI + synthetic biology" from four dimensions: technology, platform, pipeline, and team.

1. Further build up its own unique and industry-leading AI technology barriers;

2. Accelerate the integration of AI technology into the company's entire process from the DBTL (Design, Build, Test, Learn) cycle to scaled-up production, creating a new generation of AI-driven synthetic biology smart manufacturing platform.

3. Expand the company's existing product pipeline based on a new generation of AI-generated synthetic biology intelligent manufacturing platform, and promote rapid product implementation;

4. The construction of production bases and the expansion of the talent team.

Figure 1. Zelixir AI + Synthetic Biology Full-process Solution

Figure 2. Zelixir Automated and Intelligent Design Verification Facility

Zelixir, founded in 2021, is established by a team of experts with extensive experience in macromolecular structure prediction and design algorithm development from well-known universities and industries both in and outside China, as well as a synthetic biology experimental team. The company is committed to reconstructing the entire synthetic biology process using artificial intelligence and bio-computing methods—from designing reaction pathways, to discovering, designing, and modifying relevant biological components, to automated high-throughput intelligent R&D and production—to achieve maximum cost reduction and efficiency improvement, ultimately driving product manufacturing and rapid implementation. Currently, the company possesses highly competitive AI technology and synthetic biology industrial capabilities within the industry.

The company's core team is composed of experts with PhDs in AI computing and synthetic biology, possessing extensive experience. Team members have received internationally renowned awards and recognition in related fields, demonstrating outstanding academic achievements and influence. In terms of AI computing, Dr. Wang Sheng, the leading figure of the company, was selected for Stanford University’s 2021 "Top 2% Global Scientists List" in 2022. In the same year, at the 15th Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP), known as the "Olympics" of bio-computing, the Zelixir team achieved first place in RNA structure prediction and second place in protein-ligand complex prediction, standing out globally within the industry.

In the field of synthetic biology, Zelixir has assembled a team with deep expertise and practical achievements in the synthetic biology industry. This team has previously produced various synthetic biology products at kilogram and ton levels in metabolic fermentation engineering.

At this stage, Zelixir is fully integrating AI computing and design into the entire process of synthetic biology from R&D to scaling up and production. Based on its self-developed AI computing platform "ZCloud," it has not only significantly improved the efficiency of component mining and design but also reduced the R&D cycle of the synthetic biology pipeline to about one-third of the original time, directly cutting R&D costs by one to two orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, with the help of the AI computing platform, one of Zelixir's pharmaceutical intermediates completed the entire cycle from R&D to production to sales within just six months, fully demonstrating the powerful commercial application capabilities of the company’s computation-empowered synthetic biology pipeline.

Currently, the company is leveraging AI technology to continuously expand the boundaries of biotechnology, integrating known data to explore unknown fields and designing tools for creation from scratch. This empowers every aspect of synthetic biology DBTL (Design-Build-Test-Learn) and scale-up production, achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Through self-developed product pipelines and collaboration with industry partners, the company drives the joint development of healthcare, agriculture, food, consumer goods, and chemical industries.

Ms. Ranting Qian, Partner of Qingdao Qingchi Venture Capital Fund"In recent years, the application potential of AI + biocomputing in the life sciences field has gradually emerged with the rapid iteration of AI technology. The Zelixir team, led by Dr. Wang Sheng, a leading scientist in protein structure prediction, has deeply integrated AI with synthetic biology, empowering every aspect of the DBTL cycle in synthetic biology through AI technology. In the two years since its establishment, the company has continuously expanded its product R&D pipeline and successfully commercialized its first product. We look forward to the Zelixir team continuing to leverage cutting-edge AI technology to drive the application of synthetic biology, delivering innovative and cost-effective products to the market efficiently."

Huimei CapitalStated: "Zelixir has gathered AI algorithm scientists from multiple niche fields and a team with rich industrialization experience in synthetic biology, committing to implementing the world's cutting-edge closed-loop dry and wet experiments in the enzymatic green manufacturing pipeline. This transforms the technical advantages of AI, synthetic biology, and drug development into commercial advantages. We look forward to the team further overcoming industry bottlenecks and driving significant breakthroughs in large-molecule drug development and enzyme-based green manufacturing."

Mr. Lou Guoqiang, Founding Partner of Hongfeng InvestmentStated: "Zelixir is committed to empowering synthetic biology through AI, predicting protein structures, optimizing product selection, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency, addressing the key challenges and pain points of the industry. It aligns with the current green and sustainable development strategy and fits well with the direction that Hongfeng Investment focuses on. The Zelixir team is a strong and creative group. We are optimistic about Zelixir's future and are honored to have the opportunity to participate in the company’s development. We believe that under the leadership of Dr. Wang Sheng, the company will demonstrate greater potential in the field of synthetic biology and bring broader opportunities to the industry."

Li Shengwen, Managing Director of Life CapitalStated: "AI and synthetic biology technologies share two major commonalities: cost reduction and efficiency enhancement for known domains, and exploration and creation for the unknown. Zelixir is currently a company in the industry that deeply integrates AI and synthetic biology from the ground up based on these two aspects. By empowering every aspect of synthetic biology’s DBTL (Design-Build-Test-Learn) cycle and scale-up production with internationally leading AI technology, it breaks the industry's challenges of product selection and scaling difficulties. AI technology driven by data breaks down barriers across various subfields, enabling Zelixir’s synthetic biology pipeline to cover multiple areas such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, and medical aesthetics, promoting the implementation and application of synthetic biology technology across all fields."

Qingdao Qingchi Venture Capital Fund Focuses on Early- and Mid-stage Investments in China's Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sectors

HM CAPITAL is a professional fund focused on healthcare investment. Relying on the resource ecosystem advantages of HM Healthcare and others, it invests in the healthcare ecosystem multi-dimensionally, across regions, and in a three-dimensional manner. It is committed to building a professional investment platform with international vision and local execution power. Through a dual-currency, multi-strategy fund investment model, it helps early-stage and growth-stage healthcare companies grow rapidly. By the end of 2022, HM CAPITAL's management scale exceeded 4 billion yuan, with over 50 invested companies globally. Several companies in its investment portfolio have become industry leaders.

Hongfeng Investment is the supporting fund manager for BioVillage, Hangzhou Bay Life Science Park, located in the core area of the high-end industrial zone in Qianwan New Area, Ningbo. The park covers an area of 100 mu with a total construction area of approximately 85,000 square meters, consisting of biopharmaceutical incubation buildings, standalone enterprise units, and more. Hongfeng Investment focuses on the life health sector, particularly early-stage innovative biopharmaceutical R&D companies.

Qiantang Venture Capital mainly engages in early-stage and Pre-IPO project investments both domestically and overseas, fostering collaboration between China and foreign countries. With a global perspective, it seeks out projects by investing in early-stage innovative ventures and supporting their growth. The firm focuses on the fields of information technology and biomedicine, backed by experienced professionals, cooperative investment institutions, and an extensive network within the industry.

Lifecapital was founded in 2017 as a boutique investment bank specializing in the life sciences and healthcare sectors. Its services encompass private equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, and industrial strategic advisory. The firm has deep expertise in subfields such as innovative drugs, medical hard technology, biotechnology, synthetic biology, medical devices, digital health, and consumer healthcare. To date, Lifecapital has assisted nearly a hundred healthcare companies in completing private equity financing, with a total transaction value exceeding 30 billion RMB.