Portal Biotech, a UK-based biotechnology startup, has secured a $35 million Series A investment led by the NATO Innovation Fund and Earlybird Venture Capital. The company’s groundbreaking technology combines AI with biological sensors capable of single-molecule protein sequencing to detect engineered threats and defend against biological warfare. Portal Biotech’s solution aligns with NATO’s objective of supporting dual-use innovations for enhanced defense against evolving threats.
The technology is designed for field deployment, providing rapid on-site results within hours instead of days. It can detect both known and unknown pathogens, making it a valuable tool for biosecurity and defense. CEO Andy Heron emphasized the technology’s versatility, stating, “You can take this out of large labs with long turnaround times and into the field.” Beyond defense applications, the technology has potential uses in drug discovery, precision medicine, and continuous environmental monitoring.
Securing biotech resilience through investment
The NATO Innovation Fund, described as “the world’s first multi-sovereign venture capital fund,” has brought together 24 NATO member countries, committing 1 billion euros to invest in startups offering solutions to strengthen defense and security. Portal Biotech’s funding round also included participation from Science Creates VC, Pillar VC, 8VC, and the British Business Bank.
Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, senior associate at the NATO Innovation Fund, highlighted the importance of Portal Biotech’s capabilities, saying, “We believe that it is absolutely imperative that we are able to detect, monitor and create countermeasures.”
Portal Biotech’s technology allows for the detection of any pathogen and can be used for continuous monitoring of various environments, from fields to water supplies. “It allows you not just to detect what you did know was out there, but it allows you to detect what you didn’t know,” Heron added. This strategic investment demonstrates NATO’s commitment to harnessing advanced technological innovations to bolster defense capabilities and address contemporary security challenges.
As the company moves forward with its commercialization plans, it aims to collaborate with leading pharmaceutical and biotech innovators while expanding its R&D, engineering, and data science teams.
