Lygos
YC W16San Francisco, US · Founded 2011 · Delaware corporation · 55 employees · 8 known investors
Find your way into Lygos
984 people in our graph share verified history with the Lygos team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Zhenyu Tangunlockedknows Eric Steen · together at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (overlapped)
×5knows the team · via University of California, Berkeley
×2knows the team · via University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
knows the team · via Brown University
knows the team · via UC Berkeley
×2knows the team · via Y Combinator
Lygos uses genetically engineered microorganisms to produce industrial chemicals from sugar feedstocks, focusing on compounds where fermentation offers cost advantages compared to fossil fuel-based manufacturing.
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W16)
Lygos was founded in 2011 by Eric Steen and Jeffrey A. Dietrich.
ES
Eric SteeninCEO & Co-founderEric Steen is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Lygos, a biotechnology company that engineers microorganisms to produce industrial chemicals from renewable feedstocks. He has spent over 15 years building companies across agriculture, consumer products, advanced materials, and industrial biotechnology, including helping grow Lygos from a university research spinout into a platform that raised over $210 million and built partnerships with Fortune 100 companies and U.S. government agencies.
JA
Jeffrey A. DietrichinCo-founder, Chief Technology Officer2011–2019Jeffrey A. Dietrich is an executive and director at Lygos, which uses genetically engineered microorganisms to produce industrial chemicals from renewable feedstocks. He has experience in R&D leadership and corporate management across technology commercialization.
JD
Jay D. KeaslingNamed on SEC filing
Board
LK
Leonard KatzBoard director
Investors · 8
Fifty YearsSan Francisco · $250K – $2M
FundersClubSan Francisco · $250K – $5M
LG Technology VenturesSanta Clara
Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K
10x FoundersreportedMünchen · $270K – $2.7M
First Round CapitalreportedSan Francisco · $1M – $7M
IA VenturesreportedNew York · $1M – $3M
OS FundreportedPark Ridge · $1M – $2M
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$41.7M disclosed across 4 rounds · 2016–2018
▶$10.9MraisedApr 2019 · 8 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$10.9MraisedApr 2019 · 8 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Eric SteenExecutive Officer, Director
- Jay KeaslingDirector
- Brad GillespieDirector
- Jeffrey DietrichExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $15M
- Amount sold
- $10.9M
- First sale
- Nov 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$15.5MraisedApr 2019 · 31 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$15.5MraisedApr 2019 · 31 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Eric SteenExecutive Officer, Director
- Jay KeaslingDirector
- Jeffrey DietrichExecutive Officer
- Brad GillespieDirector
- Offering amount
- $20M
- Amount sold
- $15.5M
- First sale
- Mar 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$14.1MraisedJul 2017 · 35 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$14.1MraisedJul 2017 · 35 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Eric SteenExecutive Officer, Director
- Jeffrey DietrichExecutive Officer
- Brad GillespieDirector
- Jay KeaslingDirector
- Offering amount
- $14.1M
- Amount sold
- $14.1M
- First sale
- Oct 2016
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$1.2MraisedFeb 2016 · 13 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$1.2MraisedFeb 2016 · 13 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Eric SteenExecutive Officer, Director
- Jay D. KeaslingDirector
- Jeffrey A. DietrichExecutive Officer, Director
- Leonard KatzDirector
- Offering amount
- $2.9M
- Amount sold
- $1.2M
- First sale
- Jan 2016
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Lygos went on to found or lead other companies.
Non-dilutive funding · 11 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | Phase I | 2018 | $150K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2018 | $100K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase II | 2015 | $750K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2015 | $100K |
| Department of Energy | Phase II | 2014 | $1M |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase II | 2014 | $450K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase I | 2014 | $150K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2014 | $100K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2013 | $100K |
| Department of Energy | Phase II | 2012 | $988.2K |
| Department of Energy | Phase I | 2011 | $150K |
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.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does Lygos do?
- Lygos uses genetically engineered microorganisms to produce industrial chemicals from sugar feedstocks, focusing on compounds where fermentation offers cost advantages compared to fossil fuel-based manufacturing.
- Who founded Lygos?
- Lygos was founded by Eric Steen, Jeffrey A. Dietrich in 2011.
- Who are Lygos's investors?
- Lygos's investors include Fifty Years, FundersClub, LG Technology Ventures, Y Combinator, 10x Founders, First Round Capital, IA Ventures, OS Fund.
- How much funding has Lygos raised?
- Lygos has disclosed $41.7M raised across 4 rounds.
- Where is Lygos headquartered?
- Lygos is headquartered in San Francisco, US.