Benson Hill Biosystems
Durham, US · Founded 2012 · Delaware corporation · 11 known investors
Find your way into Benson Hill Biosystems
51 people in our graph share verified history with the Benson Hill Biosystems team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Confluence Genetics (operating at bensonhillbio.com) is a seed innovation company that develops soybean genetics using AI-driven plant science and proprietary tools such as eMERGE Genetics and CropOS. Its VIA product platforms include ProVIA high-protein soybeans for animal feed, FortaVIA high-oleic soybeans for dairy nutrition and food oils, and NutraVIA food-grade soybeans for specialty domestic and export markets.
Founders & leadership
Benson Hill Biosystems was founded in 2012 by Matthew B Crisp.

Board
Investors · 11
How we know: funding news · seedworld.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · seedworld.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · seedworld.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · seedworld.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · seedworld.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · seedworld.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · Not right? Tell us
Also in the syndicate · 1
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$289.9M disclosed across 6 rounds · 2014–2020
▶$159.1MraisedDec 2020 · 21 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Rebecca A BortolottiExecutive Officer
- Andy WheelerDirector
- DeAnn L BruntsDirector
- Matthew B CrispExecutive Officer, Director
- Natalie DiNicolaExecutive Officer
- Chris C WilkinsExecutive Officer
- Michael B WainscottExecutive Officer
- Mark G CuptaDirector
- Stephan DolezalekDirector
- Adrienne D ElsnerDirector
- Michelle J GloecklerDirector
- Daniel JacobiDirector
- Sanjeev KrishnanDirector
- Offering amount
- $159.1M
- Amount sold
- $159.1M
- Sales commissions
- $6.1M
- Placement agents
- Wedbush Securities Inc., William Blair & Company L.L.C., Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
- First sale
- Jul 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$32.6MraisedAug 2019 · 17 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Mark G CuptaDirector
- Daniel M WatkinsDirector
- Daniel JacobiDirector
- Michael WainscottExecutive Officer
- Matthew B CrispExecutive Officer, Director
- Nadine CarozziExecutive Officer
- Andy WheelerDirector
- Adrienne D ElsnerDirector
- Michelle J GloecklerDirector
- Sanjeev KrishnanDirector
- Offering amount
- $32.6M
- Amount sold
- $32.6M
- First sale
- May 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$65MraisedNov 2018 · 23 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Dan JacobiDirector
- Matthew B CrispExecutive Officer, Director
- Michael WainscottExecutive Officer
- Andy WheelerDirector
- Mark G CuptaDirector
- Dan WatkinsDirector
- Nadine CarozziExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $65M
- Amount sold
- $65M
- First sale
- Aug 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$25.1MraisedMay 2017 · 16 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Dan WatkinsDirector
- Nadine CarozziExecutive Officer
- Mark CuptaDirector
- David RussellDirector
- Scott R HornerDirector
- Matthew B CrispExecutive Officer, Director
- Lee N PallesExecutive Officer
- Thomas B KlevornDirector
- Dan JacobiDirector
- Offering amount
- $25.1M
- Amount sold
- $25.1M
- Minimum investment
- $50K
- First sale
- Mar 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2012
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$7.3MraisedAug 2015 · 10 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Daniel J BroderickDirector
- Bruce A JamersonDirector
- Lee PallesExecutive Officer
- Matthew B CrispExecutive Officer, Director
- Nadine CarozziExecutive Officer
- Todd C MocklerExecutive Officer
- Thomas BrutnellExecutive Officer
- Walter P SiggelkoDirector
- Gregg BogosianDirector
- Offering amount
- $8.5M
- Amount sold
- $7.3M
- Minimum investment
- $50K
- First sale
- Aug 2015
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2012
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$800KraisedSep 2014 · 4 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(c)
- Gregg BogosianDirector
- Bruce A JamersonDirector
- Matthew B CrispExecutive Officer, Director
- Todd C MocklerExecutive Officer
- Walter P SiggelkoDirector
- Lee PallesExecutive Officer
- Nadine CarozziExecutive Officer
- Thomas BrutnellExecutive Officer
- Daniel J BroderickDirector
- Offering amount
- $1M
- Amount sold
- $800K
- Minimum investment
- $40K
- First sale
- Apr 2014
- Incorporated
- Corporation, North Carolina, 2012
- Federal exemptions
- 06c
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Non-dilutive funding · 5 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2018 | $99.9K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2018 | $99.8K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase ISTTR | 2014 | $224.2K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2014 | $99K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase ISTTR | 2013 | $223.5K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Benson Hill Biosystems do?
- Confluence Genetics (operating at bensonhillbio.com) is a seed innovation company that develops soybean genetics using AI-driven plant science and proprietary tools such as eMERGE Genetics and CropOS. Its VIA product platforms include ProVIA high-protein soybeans for animal feed, FortaVIA high-oleic soybeans for dairy nutrition and food oils, and NutraVIA food-grade soybeans for specialty domestic and export markets.
- Who founded Benson Hill Biosystems?
- Benson Hill Biosystems was founded by Matthew B Crisp in 2012.
- Who are Benson Hill Biosystems's investors?
- Benson Hill Biosystems's investors include Activant Capital, Alexandria, Fall Line Capital, GV (Google Ventures), iSelect Fund, Lewis & Clark Ventures, Mercury Fund, Missouri Technology Corporation and 2 more.
- How much funding has Benson Hill Biosystems raised?
- Benson Hill Biosystems has disclosed $289.9M raised across 6 rounds.
- Where is Benson Hill Biosystems headquartered?
- Benson Hill Biosystems is headquartered in Durham, US.





