WeGene Factory Secures RMB 250 Million Series A Funding to Build 10,000-Ton PHA Production Base and Files IPO Prospectus

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that on January 17, Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Weigou Workshop”) announced the completion of its RMB 250 million Series A financing round. The round was led by China State-Owned Enterprise Mixed-Ownership Reform Fund Co., Ltd. (“Mixed-Ownership Reform Fund”), with participation from Guozhong Capital, GRC SinoGreen Fund (Fuhua Capital), Zhonghai Investment, and Shunyi District’s state-owned investment platform Linkong Xingrong. Existing investors HongShan and SEE FUND also increased their investments.

Following the completion of this funding round, Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. successfully closed its angel and Series A financing rounds within less than a year of its establishment, raising a total of RMB 300 million.

Upon completion of the Series A financing, Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. will fully establish its international R&D headquarters for next-generation biodegradable PHA materials in Shunyi District, Beijing, achieve efficient production at its 1,000-ton intelligent demonstration line, and simultaneously launch a nationwide search for sites to build green, intelligent manufacturing bases with an annual capacity of 10,000 tons for PHA and high-value compounds.

Synthetic biology is an emerging interdisciplinary field encompassing microbiology, molecular biology, systems biology, and engineering. By introducing engineering principles, it enables the standardized design and modular construction of microbial biosynthetic pathways to create novel life forms with targeted functionalities. Founded in February 2021, Weigou Workshop is a startup dedicated to manufacturing biomaterials and high-value compounds. Leveraging globally leading “Next-Generation Industrial Biotechnology,” the company has established a technical platform for the synthetic biological engineering of Halomonas species. Its current R&D pipeline includes eco-friendly biodegradable materials, chemical intermediates, pharmaceutical intermediates, and industrial enzymes. The company has already completed the industrial-scale technology development for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and its series of products.

Figure 1: Next-Generation Industrial Biotechnology

PHA is a fully biodegradable novel biomaterial and the only carbon-neutral, biodegradable material that is entirely biosynthesized. PHA products undergo complete natural degradation in marine environments within approximately 1–3 years, significantly accelerating the degradation process compared to conventional plastics, which can take hundreds of years. Furthermore, pure PHA products are harmless to marine and terrestrial animals and can even be ingested by them.

In the industrialization of PHA, cost control has always been a core challenge. Leveraging its synthetic biology technology platform, Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has comprehensively redesigned and constructed halophilic production strains, pioneering a complete set of novel PHA production technologies known as “Next-Generation Industrial Biotechnology.” This unique “new approach” highlights three core technological advantages: “open, continuous contamination-free fermentation” technology, controllable morphological engineering for “self-flocculation and self-sedimentation,” and key downstream technologies enabling multiple reuse of fermentation wastewater. Synthetic biology engineering of the halophilic production strains has yielded various PHA structures, leading to diverse material properties and application scenarios.

Figure 2: Products and Partial Applications of Weigou Workshop

“Microbial contamination” refers to the growth and metabolism of non-production microorganisms in the culture medium. These contaminants not only compete with production strains for survival resources but also severely impair the yield of target products, causing significant economic losses to the fermentation process. Therefore, thorough sterilization of the entire fermentation equipment using high-temperature, high-pressure steam is required during the fermentation process, making it a major energy consumer in fermentation engineering. In contrast, open cultivation without contamination can avoid this cost without affecting normal production. Notably, this technology is currently the only one globally that enables an open, continuous, and contamination-free manufacturing process.

During the production process, Weigou Workshop’s technology enables “open cultivation without contamination,” a feat made possible by its proprietary *Halomonas* strain used for PHA production. Typically, bacteria thrive in environments with appropriate osmotic pressure and acidic or weakly acidic conditions. In contrast, Weigou Workshop’s halophilic production strain is distinct: it exhibits high osmotic tolerance and alkali resistance while maintaining rapid growth. These characteristics are achieved through improvements based on globally leading synthetic biology technologies for *Halomonas*. Researchers from Tsinghua University and Weigou Workshop have engineered the strain through multiple modifications to enhance its adaptability to osmotic changes and accelerate its growth rate. As a result, other microorganisms find it difficult to compete, ensuring an open yet axenic cultivation process.

During fermentation, separation and purification constitute a significant portion of production costs. Bacteria remain stably suspended in the liquid due to electrostatic repulsion between individual cells, preventing flocculation. Researchers at Tsinghua University have employed a proprietary “charge-protein gene knockout” technology to engineer bacterial strains that are no longer charged. As a result, these modified bacteria do not repel each other and can flocculate together. This technology enables automatic downstream product separation and purification, significantly simplifying the production process.

Currently, Weigou Workshop boasts a professional team composed of experts from academia, business, and industry, with core members possessing extensive experience in their respective fields. The company has filed for and obtained more than 70 patents.

As an innovative enterprise in synthetic biology, Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is committed to transforming its rapidly iterated Halomonas-based synthetic biology technologies into a R&D and manufacturing enterprise capable of large-scale production of green, high-value compounds. On one hand, the company continues its close collaboration with Tsinghua University while leveraging its own industrialization advantages to advance, expand, and optimize multiple diverse product pipelines. On the other hand, the company will scale up the production of its mature novel PHA product (PHA terpolymer) and gradually ramp up manufacturing for several other products within the PHA family currently under development.

Professor Chen Guoqiang, Founder of Weigou Workshopstated: “This achievement by Weigou Workshop is first and foremost attributable to Tsinghua University. The years of support from the School of Life Sciences and the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua, the Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences (CLS), and the Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology at Tsinghua University (CSSB) have enabled me, during my 28-year research career at Tsinghua, to focus on PHA research spanning from fundamentals to applications, and from synthetic biology to industrialization. During this period, nearly 100 doctoral students, dozens of master’s students, and nearly 100 undergraduate students participated in the synthetic biology engineering of Halomonas species and the transition of traditional PHA production technologies to ‘Next-Generation Industrial Biotechnology.’”’...fundamental research, process scale-up, and optimization of large-scale industrial production, contributing their wisdom and expertise. This has positioned Tsinghua University at the international forefront in the specialized field of PHA, with multiple core patents held. Major fundamental research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology’s 863 Program and 973 Program, and the ‘Major Special Project on Synthetic Biology’’The “Major Special Project on Green Bio-manufacturing” and the Tsinghua-Peking University Center for Life Sciences (CLS) have provided sustained and ample funding, enabling our journey from 0 to 1 and from 1 to 10 to where we are today. We thank our investors for their trust, which has allowed us to realize the dream of scaling up from pilot trials to large-scale industrialization. We extend our gratitude to the relevant departments of the Beijing Municipal Government and Shunyi District for their strong support in facilitating Weigou Workshop’s establishment in Beijing. Finally, we thank the young team at Weigou Workshop for working together to advance “next-generation industrial biotechnology” along the industry chain. Many challenges still lie ahead, and we will face them together.”

Wang Yan, Dean of the Technology Transfer Institute, Tsinghua UniversityLong“It was stated that ‘next-generation industrial biotechnology represents a scientific and technological achievement cultivated over many years by Professor Chen Guoqiang’s team at Tsinghua University, and Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is an outstanding spin-off enterprise established based on this achievement. The project’s commercial success has been driven not only by the team’s decades-long dedication to scientific research and breakthroughs, but also by the effective business execution of its excellent management team, as well as the strong support from government agencies and venture capital. The Technology Transfer Institute of Tsinghua University will continue to monitor Weigou Workshop’s commercial progress and provide ongoing support and services.’”

Wang Biao, General Manager of Tsinghua University Huakong Technology Transfer Co., Ltd.“He stated: ‘Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is a highly promising enterprise resulting from the commercialization of Tsinghua University’s research achievements. The project successfully transitioned from academic outcomes to commercial operations within a remarkably short period, setting an example for other technology transfer initiatives at the university. We are delighted to participate in the industrial implementation of this project and will continue to monitor Weigou Workshop’s development, providing ongoing support and services.’”

Dean Shi Songhai, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua Universitystated: “Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. represents a milestone in the commercialization of research achievements from the School of Life Sciences at Tsinghua University, marking that the School’s high-level scientific research platform has successfully generated a batch of innovative outcomes with global impact and possesses the capability to further advance their industrial application. As one of the most distinctive and influential bases for scientific research and advanced talent development in China’s life sciences sector, the School of Life Sciences at Tsinghua University will continue to cultivate outstanding professionals for both academia and industry, supporting the rapid growth of cutting-edge enterprises such as Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd.”

Mixed-Ownership Reform FundIt stated: “Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is an innovative enterprise established through the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements from Tsinghua University, specializing in the R&D of synthetic biology technologies and the development and application of bio-based materials. Its core product, PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates), boasts advantages such as an all-biological production process, complete biodegradability, and diverse performance characteristics, aligning with national strategic initiatives including the ban on single-use plastics, the Dual Carbon goals, and the promotion of green bio-based synthetic materials. The Mixed-Ownership Reform Fund will fully leverage its leading role as a national-level fund to support the deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application between Weigou Workshop and Tsinghua University, joining hands with Weigou Workshop to contribute to carbon neutrality and the governance of plastic pollution.”

HongShan Vice President Gong Yuan“Weigou Workshop, a biomanufacturing startup pioneering ‘next-generation industrial biotechnology,’ has not only achieved PHA production capacity at the 10,000-ton scale but is also poised to introduce a broader product portfolio leveraging novel, green and energy-efficient chassis cells. Synthetic biology enables carbon neutrality in the materials sector; bio-based materials do not merely avoid adding to carbon emissions—they are ‘carbon-negative.’ Weigou Workshop stands at the forefront of this practice. HongShan has long been committed to nurturing and empowering companies with leading technological innovation capabilities within the zero-carbon economy, growing together with Weigou Workshop.”

Linkong Xingrong Investmentstated: “As a key enterprise under the focus of the Shunyi District Government, Weigou Workshop has been included in the ‘Two Zones’”’Key Projects, Key Projects of the Beijing Sino-German Industrial Park. As a technology transfer achievement from Tsinghua University, Weigou Workshop has exerted significant influence and demonstrated exemplary impact in the field of synthetic biology. PHA is ‘carbon neutrality’“As the most environmentally friendly and sustainable biosynthetic new material in its field, it aligns closely with Shunyi District’s leading industries across downstream application sectors such as biopharmaceuticals, high-end medical devices, and automotive interiors. In the future, our company will serve as a key driver to promote industrial development in Shunyi District, maintaining long-term close attention to Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and providing full support for the sustained growth of its high-potential key projects.”

Dr. Wang Xiujun, Executive Director of Fuhua CapitalExpressing anticipation for future collaboration: “The team at Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has been deeply engaged in the field of PHA synthesis for many years, building comprehensive core barriers based on the PHA value chain. With industry-leading technological capabilities, it has established a complete synthetic biology technology platform. Amid the current ‘plastic restriction policy’’and 'Carbon Neutrality’Against the broader international backdrop, the commercialization of Weigou Workshop’s technology holds historic significance for the entire industry and serves as a powerful catalyst for China to achieve its “dual carbon” goals. We look forward to Weigou Workshop continuing to leverage its advantages, consistently iterating and upgrading its production processes, and continuously expanding terminal application scenarios for PHA. Fuhua Capital will assist Weigou Workshop in expanding into overseas markets by leveraging its own international collaboration platform and resource advantages, helping to build it into a global leader in the field of synthetic biology.”

Guozhong CapitalIt stated: “Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Weigou Workshop) offers products spanning biodegradable plastics, high-value medical excipients, and cosmetic ingredients. Its founder, Professor Chen Guoqiang, is a world-leading expert in synthetic biology and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Under Professor Chen’s leadership, the company has overcome challenges in PHA synthesis and process scale-up, advancing to industrial-scale production. Amid the global trend toward plastic restriction and carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, Weigou Workshop is poised to play a significant role and emerge as a leading R&D and manufacturing enterprise in the field of biodegradable materials. Guided by its mission to support small and medium-sized enterprises, Guozhong Capital will join hands with Weigou Workshop to collectively advance China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality initiatives.””

Huang Haijun, Founding Partner of Zhonghai InvestmentHe stated, “Against the global backdrop of carbon neutrality, the production of materials essential to humanity is shifting from traditional chemical processes to synthetic biology, with the gradual realization of green manufacturing serving as a critical component of sustainable development. As a globally leading industrial biotechnology platform company, Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Weigou Workshop) will play a pioneering role in China’s green manufacturing revolution. The reason Weigou Workshop’s PHA business has emerged as the frontrunner in China and even worldwide—possessing the most favorable conditions for large-scale industrial production and the most significant cost-reduction advantages—lies in the technological accumulation and breakthroughs achieved by Professor Chen Guoqiang’s team over more than three decades. The industrialization of synthetic biology is a highly complex systems science, characterized by exceptionally high barriers in terms of technology, time, and experience. PHA is the first product commercialized by Weigou Workshop. In the future, leveraging Weigou Workshop’s industrial biotechnology platform, more superior products will be brought to market, driving the development of the green manufacturing industry. We strongly align with Weigou Workshop’s corporate mission of ‘transforming chemical manufacturing into green biological manufacturing’ and look forward to collaborating with Weigou Workshop to make greater contributions to the sustainable development of human society.”

Beijing Weigou Workshop Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is an innovative enterprise specializing in the research, development, and application of synthetic biology technologies, established through the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements from Tsinghua University. Leveraging more than 30 patented technologies developed over nearly three decades by Professor Chen Guoqiang’s team, Weigou Workshop has successfully achieved efficient biosynthesis of compounds such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a biodegradable material; ectoine, a pharmaceutical intermediate; 3-hydroxypropionic acid, a chemical intermediate; and 1,5-pentanediamine. Notably, PHA production has been validated from pilot-scale trials to large-scale fermentation manufacturing. Continuously focusing on the field of synthetic biology technology, Weigou Workshop is committed to building world-leading R&D centers and production bases, promoting the widespread application of green manufacturing products in pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, daily necessities, and other sectors, thereby providing green solutions for achieving “carbon neutrality” and “peak carbon emissions.”

China State-Owned Enterprise Mixed-Ownership Reform Fund Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the “Mixed-Ownership Reform Fund”) is a national-level fund approved by the State Council and established with China Chengtong Holdings Group Co., Ltd. as the main promoter. The fund has a total size of RMB 200 billion, an initial registered capital of RMB 70.7 billion, and assets under management of RMB 80.7 billion. The establishment of the Mixed-Ownership Reform Fund represents a significant measure to implement the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council regarding the reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises. Centering on the core task of “actively and prudently deepening mixed-ownership reform,” the fund strives to become a vital capital force driving mixed-ownership reform and enhancing the vitality of various market entities. Its ultimate goal is to cultivate mixed-ownership enterprises with global competitiveness while stimulating substantial development across related industrial chains.

HongShan is committed to helping entrepreneurs build enduring, great companies by providing its portfolio companies with abundant global resources and valuable historical expertise. As “the entrepreneur behind the entrepreneur,” HongShan focuses on investment opportunities in technology, consumer, and healthcare sectors. Over the past 17 years, HongShan has invested in more than 900 enterprises characterized by distinct technological advantages, innovative business models, high growth potential, and strong development prospects.

Beijing Linkong Xingrong Investment Co., Ltd. was established in 2016 and is wholly owned by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shunyi District. Its business scope includes investment, investment management, and asset operation. Since its inception, Linkong Xingrong has cumulatively invested in 21 high-quality projects, including Sanbo Brain Hospital, Aier Eye Hospital (note: corrected from literal translation to likely intended entity based on context, but sticking to literal if unsure: AiBo Medical), Ronbay Technology, and Pumen Technology. Through years of investment accumulation, the company has established investment channels to promote industrial development in Shunyi District and its core areas, supporting the innovative development of key industries. By leveraging open resources to build an industrial ecosystem, it has formed a symbiotic circular system where investment activities and industrial promotion are aligned, driving regional industrial transformation and upgrading, and contributing to the construction of Shunyi District’s new high-end industrial pattern of “3+7+N”.

Guozhong Capital won the bids to manage the “National SME Development Fund” twice, at the end of 2015 and the end of 2020, with a total assets under management (AUM) of RMB 10 billion. It has become the only institution in China to consecutively win bids for managing two physical funds under the National SME Development Fund, shouldering the important mission of promoting the development of the real economy and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises on behalf of the state.

Established in 2005, Fuhua Capital GRC SinoGreen Fund manages private equity and venture capital funds for world-renowned investment institutions. Its limited partners include sovereign wealth funds, Global Fortune 500 companies, and international financial institutions. Fuhua Capital is among the earliest venture capital firms to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing and key technology investments into the private equity market, with a primary focus on high-tech sectors driven by independent innovation.

Zhonghai Investment was established in 2014 and co-founded by Lu Zhong and Huang Haijun, former senior executives of Alibaba Group. The investment team possesses extensive practical experience in the internet, electronics, healthcare, and materials sectors, focusing on technology-driven industrial investments. To date, it has invested in over 60 high-quality enterprises. Adhering to the philosophy of being a “partner for growing enterprises,” Zhonghai Investment provides deep post-investment services to its portfolio companies, including organizational capability building and industrial resource integration.

Wuxian Fund is an early-stage technology investment fund jointly initiated by the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University and several leading venture capital firms and industrial investors. Leveraging the strengths of the Tsinghua ecosystem, it serves as a forward outpost for its partners in frontier technology sectors. The team members possess both academic backgrounds and entrepreneurial experience. Capitalizing on their unique position bridging academia and the market, along with a service-oriented mindset rooted in shared entrepreneurial experience, they aim to help outstanding scientists and founding teams secure greater attention and support during the most challenging early stages of their ventures.