The late 20th and early 21st centuries are sometimes described as the ‘Century of Biology’ as advances in bioscience drive innovation in this field. One result of this is to create a demand for high-quality lab-grown cells.
Unicorn Biotechnologies (Unicorn Bio) mission is to build a new generation of autonomous smart machines to produce these cells, an underpinning technology in the $5 trillion dollar bioeconomy. This technology will be needed to grow everything from meat to medicine, and to boost productivity through automated running. Perhaps unconventionally, Unicorn are working in two verticals simultaneously, cultivated meat and cell therapies.
The company recognises both areas have similar challenges and they hope to solve these. They have also recently launched their first cellular products via a spin-out of their parent company, called Dragon Biotechnologies (Dragon Bio). Dr Adam Glen is the founder of Unicorn Bio and started it after working in research and development (R&D) across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines in multiple sectors. He worked previously at GE Healthcare, with academic institutions such as Oxford University, with other biotechnology startup companies, and with the Royal Society as an Entrepreneur in Residence advising University spinouts. As the founder, he says his responsibilities “cover every element of the business from chief bottle washer to company vision, through experimental design/execution, recruiting, supporting, and managing a super team, fundraising, to business development and commercial strategy”.
He describes himself as a self-starter and with his own internal motivation. As such he recognises that one of the biggest challenges for him within a company environment relates to people management and encouraging performance throughout the team. He is planning to use the networking opportunities in the Shott Scale up Accelerator to build awareness of how others think and develop processes to maximise performance.
Unicorn Bio has grown from a lab in an attic, raising more than $3 million to building a bio-lab and engineering workshops in less than 12 weeks, while building a team of 10 in just over 18 months. They are continuing to work on their automated, modular, scalable biomanufacturing system working towards a commercial launch. They are also raising funds to build a new biotech hub in Sheffield that they are looking to complete by early in 2024. After that they are looking to raise series A fundraising early in 2024 to continue to expand the companies’ products and service offerings.
