Spore.Bio: AI-Powered Microbiology Testing Set to Transform Food Safety and Quality Control
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In a world where food safety and quality control are paramount, Paris-based DeepTech startup Spore.Bio is making waves with its groundbreaking AI-powered microbiology testing technology. The company recently announced a €22 million Series A funding round, led by VC firm Singular, with participation from Point 72 Ventures, 1st Kind Ventures (Peugeot Family Office), Station F, and Lord David Prior (ex-Chair of NHS). Existing investors, including LocalGlobe, No Label Ventures, and Famille C (Clarins Family Office), also continued their support. This latest funding round follows a €7.9 million pre-Seed round in December 2023, bringing Spore.Bio’s total funding to €29.9 million.
Founded in 2023 by a team of industry experts—Amine Raji (CEO), Maxime Mistretta (CTO), and Mohamed Tazi (COO)—Spore.Bio is tackling one of the most pressing challenges in the food and beverage industry: rapid and accurate detection of bacterial contamination. With a sharp rise in product recalls and contamination incidents (up 20% in 2024 alone), the need for innovative solutions has never been greater. Spore.Bio’s proprietary AI technology is poised to revolutionize quality control, offering real-time, on-site testing that could save companies billions in recall costs and protect consumer trust.
The Problem: Slow and Inefficient Testing
Traditional microbiological testing methods are slow, often taking between five and 20 days to deliver results. These tests require samples to be sent off-site to external labs, creating delays that can lead to costly product recalls and public health risks. The average cost of a recall in the FMCG industry is estimated at €9.5 million, not to mention the damage to brand reputation and consumer trust.
Spore.Bio’s solution addresses these inefficiencies head-on. By leveraging advanced machine learning models, the startup’s device can measure bacterial concentrations in food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products in real time. This allows quality managers to detect potential risks immediately, significantly reducing the likelihood of contamination incidents and recalls.
How Spore.Bio’s Technology Works
At the heart of Spore.Bio’s innovation is a patent pending microfluidic device combined with AI-driven analytics. The device, which builds on research conducted at the Pasteur Institute (where co-founder Maxime Mistretta completed his PhD), enables high-resolution, real-time monitoring of bacterial concentrations. Unlike traditional methods, Spore.Bio’s technology can be deployed on-site, providing manufacturers with near-instant insights into product safety.
The microfluidic device is designed to form two-dimensional cell cultures, allowing for precise monitoring of cell growth and behavior over time. This capability is particularly valuable for studying single-cell dynamics, which is critical for understanding bacterial behavior and developing effective interventions. The device operates at low pressures, ensuring cell viability and long-term stability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Paired with an internally developed dashboard, Spore.Bio’s technology offers manufacturers unprecedented traceability and transparency. Quality managers can access real-time data, enabling them to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently.
A Game-Changer for the Food Industry
Spore.Bio’s technology is already generating significant interest, with over 200 factories on the waitlist for future deployments. The startup’s ability to provide rapid, on-site testing is particularly transformative for the food and beverage industry, where contamination incidents can have devastating consequences.
By enabling real-time detection of bacterial contamination, Spore.Bio is helping manufacturers reduce costs, protect consumer safety, and maintain regulatory compliance. The technology also has applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, where quality control is equally critical.
Strategic Partnerships and Expansion
Spore.Bio has secured an academic partnership with the Pasteur Institute, a leading microbiology research organization. This collaboration will enhance the capabilities of Spore.Bio’s technology by leveraging the Pasteur Institute’s extensive biobank. Additionally, the company recently acquired Greentropism, a competitor, to capitalize on their technical expertise and intellectual property.
Looking ahead to 2025, Spore.Bio plans to double its workforce from 25 to 50 world-class scientists and engineers. The focus will be on scaling up the industrialization process, iterating with existing customers, and preparing for commercialization by the end of the year.
The Future of Food Safety
Spore.Bio’s mission is clear: to make every consumer product safe worldwide using its cutting-edge technology. By providing faster, more accurate, and cost-effective microbiology testing, the startup is setting new standards for quality control in the FMCG industry.
Raffi Kamber, General Partner at Singular, highlighted the transformative potential of Spore.Bio’s technology, stating that it is redefining microbiological detection and setting new benchmarks for integrated testing across industries. With its innovative approach and strong foundation in scientific research, Spore.Bio is poised to become a driving force in the future of food safety and quality control.
Spore.Bio’s AI-powered microbiology testing platform represents a significant leap forward in the fight against bacterial contamination. By enabling real-time, on-site detection, the startup is helping manufacturers reduce costs, protect consumer safety, and maintain regulatory compliance. With significant funding, strategic partnerships, and a clear vision for the future, Spore.Bio is well-positioned to revolutionize quality control and make a lasting impact on global food safety.
