Amsterdam’s Cradle raises $73M for AI-powered protein engineering

Biotech to answer pressing global issues

Amsterdam-based biotech innovator Cradle, a pioneer in AI-powered protein engineering company, has secured $73 million (approximately €70 million) in a Series B funding round. Led by IVP, with continued support from Index Ventures and Kindred Capital, this milestone brings Cradle’s total funding to over $100 million. With dual operations in Amsterdam and Zurich, Cradle is strengthening its research, sales, and operations teams with the recent funding. The company’s rapid growth follows its Series A funding round last year, which raised €21.92 million. 

Operating at the intersections of AI, SaaS (Software as a Service) and biotech, Cradle offers an AI platform to design proteins used in a wide range of products, including medicines, detergents, food ingredients, and bioplastics. Cradle’s CEO and co-founder, Stef van Grieken, believes AI can solve some of the world’s most complex challenges by accelerating the development of bio-based products. With Series B funding, Cradle aims to scale its technology, empower scientists, and drive innovation, with the goal of equipping one million scientists and creating smarter, more sustainable solutions.

Scaling Amsterdam’s biotech ecosystem

Cradle’s generative AI platform is already transforming sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food production, and chemical manufacturing. Global companies, including Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Grifols, and Novozymes, use Cradle’s technology to expedite research and development in therapeutics, diagnostics, and bio-based innovations.

With the Netherlands having recently been ranked #13 among the world’s best-performing startup ecosystems and clean-tech pioneers like Metabolic and Flexidao already based in Amsterdam, Cradle and its biotech projects showcase the city’s dedication to backing the success of young businesses with an eye towards a more resilient energy future. 

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