Manus Bio
Manus Bio is an industrial biotechnology company that uses engineered cell factories and precision fermentation to produce bioalternative sweeteners, flavors, and pharmaceutical ingredients for food and beverage, flavor and fragrance, and U.S. government customers, with commercial-scale manufacturing in Augusta, Georgia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Manus Bio does
Manus Bio Inc. is a Waltham, Massachusetts-based industrial biotechnology company that operates a precision fermentation platform for producing bioalternatives — chemically identical replacements for complex molecules traditionally sourced from plants, animals, or fossil fuels. The company's core technology is its proprietary BioOptimization Cycle, which integrates metabolic engineering, AI-augmented enzyme engineering, and systems biology, supported by a Universal Chassis Collection of engineered microorganisms and an Integrated Multivariate Omics Analysis platform. This stack is protected by more than 200 patents and is built on more than two decades of digital biological data.
Manus commercializes a portfolio of bio-manufactured ingredients including Monk Fruit Sweetener (the first U.S.-made monk fruit sweetener at commercial scale), Yume M Stevia Reb M (in partnership with Tate & Lyle through The Natural Sweetener Alliance), and citrus BioIngredients such as BioNootkatone, Valencene 80, and Nootkatone 70 (developed and scaled for Givaudan). The company also runs two service programs — the BioAccelerator Program for end-to-end bioalternative development and the BioManufacturing Program for scale-up capacity — and licenses the MAD7 CRISPR nuclease acquired via the 2025 Inscripta merger. Manufacturing is anchored by the Augusta, Georgia BioFacility, which houses 40K L and 600K L fermentors with peak capacity of 6,000 metric tons annually, plus a raw materials facility in Paita, Peru and a new application hub in Singapore for the Asia-Pacific region.
Manus earns revenue primarily through direct B2B sales of manufactured ingredients to food and beverage, flavor and fragrance customers, supplemented by distribution partnerships with Tate & Lyle and Givaudan, government contracts with HHS ASPR for essential medicines, service fees from BioAccelerator and BioManufacturing engagements, and royalties from MAD7 CRISPR licensing. The company is privately held, has 101-250 employees, and has been funded primarily through non-dilutive sources including a $47.4M HHS ASPR award, a $2M Gates Foundation grant, multiple NSF awards, and a $75M round in 2020.
Manus Bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manus Bio
- Legal name
- Manus Bio Inc.
- Website
- https://manusbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Manus Bio is an industrial biotechnology company that uses engineered cell factories and precision fermentation to produce bioalternative sweeteners, flavors, and pharmaceutical ingredients for food and beverage, flavor and fragrance, and U.S. government customers, with commercial-scale manufacturing in Augusta, Georgia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manus Bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Biotechnology Ingredients (Bioalternatives)
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based Food & Flavor Ingredients (Non-fuel Co-products: sweeteners, organic acids, flavors) (EUAAAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM), Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA)
Keywords
Where Manus Bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Manus Bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Bioalternative Product Sales: Manus manufactures and sells bioalternative ingredients (sweeteners, flavors, fragrances) directly to food and beverage companies. Revenue is generated from the sale of these manufactured ingredients, including Monk Fruit Sweetener, Yume M Stevia, BioNootkatone, Valencene 80, and Nootkatone 70.
- BioAccelerator Program: End-to-end development service for companies needing complete solutions - from cell factory engineering to biomanufacturing at scale. Provides protein engineering, strain development, bioprocess development, pilot scale, and research services to help partners bring bioalternative products to market.
- BioManufacturing Program: Scale-up and biomanufacturing services using Manus' state-of-the-art BioFacilities for companies looking to expand production capacity. Includes pilot scale services and research services for techno-economic data collection.
- Licensing: Manus licenses its CRISPR tools (MAD7) to broaden access to genome-editing technology, generating licensing revenue from biotech and research institutions.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Manus Bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manus Bio operates a bioalternatives scale-up platform that uses engineered microbial cell factories and precision fermentation to manufacture sustainable, chemically identical versions of complex molecules traditionally sourced from plants, animals, or fossil fuels. The company sells bioalternative ingredients (Monk Fruit Sweetener, Yume M Stevia, BioNootkatone, Valencene 80, Nootkatone 70) directly to enterprise food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical customers, and also provides development and biomanufacturing service programs plus licensing of MAD7 CRISPR tools.
Product overview
Manus Bio operates as a bioalternatives scale-up platform offering a portfolio of bio-manufactured ingredients and supporting technology programs. The core products include Monk Fruit Sweetener (the first US-made monk fruit sweetener at commercial scale), Yume™ M Stevia Sweetener (bioconverted Reb M under The Sweetener Alliance with Tate & Lyle), BioNootkatone (citrus bioalternative developed with Givaudan), and Valencene 80/Nootkatone 70 (citrus BioIngredients). These are complemented by the proprietary BioOptimization Cycle® technology platform and two service programs: the BioAccelerator Program (end-to-end development) and BioManufacturing Program (scale-up and production capacity). The company also licenses MAD7™ CRISPR tools. The platform leverages engineered cell factories and precision fermentation to produce complex molecules sustainably.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Yume™ M Stevia Sweetener: Premium stevia-derived sweetener (Reb M) produced at Manus' BioFacility in Augusta, Georgia, through partnership with Tate & Lyle under The Sweetener Alliance. First large-scale commercialization of an all-Americas-sourced, manufactured, and bioconverted stevia Reb M ingredient.
- Monk Fruit Sweetener
- BioNootkatone
- Nootkatone 70
- Valencene 80
- MAD7™
Products and services
- Monk Fruit Sweetener Zero-calorie, non-glycemic monk fruit sweetener approximately 350 times sweeter than sugar, produced via precision fermentation at the Augusta BioFacility. The first monk fruit sweetener manufactured at commercial scale in the United States, offering clean rounded sweetness for dairy, nutritional products, and beverage applications.
- Yume M Stevia Sweetener Premium stevia-derived sweetener (Reb M) produced through bioconversion at Manus' Augusta BioFacility. Marketed under The Sweetener Alliance partnership with Tate & Lyle for global distribution to food and beverage customers.
- BioNootkatone Bioalternative to nootkatone, a rare component found in citrus fruits. Developed and scaled in partnership with Givaudan for flavor and fragrance applications. Reduces the input required from approximately 400,000 kg of fruit to just a few kg of sugar per kilogram of nootkatone oil.
- Valencene 80 and Nootkatone 70 Citrus BioIngredients produced from lab to manufacturing through Manus' bioalternatives scale-up platform. Deliver taste and sensory performance while reducing dependency on volatile agricultural supplies. Produced for Givaudan.
- BioAccelerator Program End-to-end development service program bridging the Valley of Death for partner companies. Provides protein engineering, strain development, bioprocess development, and pilot scale services to optimize and accelerate each step of bioalternative product development.
- BioManufacturing Program Program enabling partner companies to expand scale-up and production capacity using Manus' state-of-the-art BioFacilities. Provides pilot scale and research services for pre-commercial testing, regulatory submissions, and full-scale engineering designs.
- MAD7 CRISPR Tools Licensing Licensing of MAD7, a best-in-class CRISPR genome-editing nuclease obtained through the Inscripta-Manus merger. Offered as a powerful, flexible, and cost-effective tool for genome editing across biotech and research institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cell factories are more than 1,000 times more efficient than nature in producing bioalternative molecules
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Manus Bio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Manus Bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
Manus Bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered notable, strategic, regional, flagship and core.
- U.S. Congress / HHS LeadershipnotableGroundbreaking ceremony for artemisinin biomanufacturing facility attended by HHS ASPR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Knox, U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.), and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). The event underscores Manus' role in advancing America's biomanufacturing leadership and national security capabilities.
- University of GeorgiastrategicAcademic partnership for the BioMADE-supported apprenticeship program. UGA provides academic expertise to develop a transferable curriculum and implementation blueprint for training biomanufacturing operators. The blueprint can serve as a replicable mechanism for workforce development at scale across bioindustrial facilities.
- BioMADEstrategicNational manufacturing innovation institute for industrial biotechnology selected Manus' apprenticeship program through a competitive project call. BioMADE advances its mission to strengthen domestic bioindustrial manufacturing and grow a skilled U.S. manufacturing workforce. Project supports BioMADE's goal of creating a replicable training blueprint for bioindustrial facilities across the U.S.
- Asia-Pacific Regional PartnersregionalManus opened a purpose-built application hub in Singapore to serve customers and partners across the Asia-Pacific region. The hub provides hands-on product development, formulation optimization, and application support tailored to regional needs, establishing local presence to help companies integrate advanced biobased solutions.
- Tate & LyleflagshipStrategic partnership known as 'The Natural Sweetener Alliance' to expand access to natural sugar reduction solutions. First product is stevia Reb M (Yume M Stevia), marking the first large-scale commercialization of an all-Americas-sourced, manufactured, and bioconverted stevia Reb M ingredient. Tate & Lyle brings stevia R&D, sensory expertise, applications knowledge, nutrition expertise, regulatory expertise, and global presence. Manus provides bioconversion technology, manufacturing, and supply chain control from stevia leaf to final ingredient.
- GivaudancoreDevelopment and scaling partnership through the BioAccelerator Program to develop BioNootkatone - a bioalternative to nootkatone, one of the rare components found in citrus fruits. Givaudan contributed analytical, flavor, and processing expertise. Portfolio also includes Valencene 80 and Nootkatone 70 produced for Givaudan. The partnership reduced inputs and resources required to produce 1 kg of nootkatone oil from approximately 400,000 kg of fruit to only a few kg of sugar.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Manus Bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- dsm-firmenich: dsm-firmenich is a global leader in nutrition, health, and flavors & fragrances, with active investments in fermentation-derived ingredients including alternative proteins and bioactives. Comparable to Manus Bio as a flavor customer/supplier partner and as a vertically integrated ingredient platform pursuing precision fermentation partnerships.
- Tate & Lyle: Tate & Lyle is a global food ingredient supplier and Manus Bio's primary sweetener distribution partner through The Natural Sweetener Alliance (Yume M Stevia). Comparable as both a partner and broader food ingredient incumbent with overlapping interests in stevia, monk fruit, and sugar reduction.
- Cargill: Cargill is a global agribusiness and food ingredient supplier with growing investments in fermentation and bio-based ingredients (e.g., EverSweet stevia via partnership). Comparable to Manus Bio as a major food ingredient incumbent with both partnership potential and competitive overlap in stevia and bio-sweeteners.
- Novonesis: Novonesis (formed from the Novozymes/Chr. Hansen merger) is the global leader in industrial enzymes, fermentation, and microbial solutions for food, agriculture, and health. Comparable to Manus Bio as a large-scale fermentation incumbent with overlapping applications in food ingredients, flavors, and bioactives, though much broader portfolio and global distribution.
- Givaudan: Givaudan is the world's largest flavor and fragrance house and is Manus Bio's flagship development partner for BioNootkatone, Valencene 80, and Nootkatone 70. Comparable as both customer and competitor in the bioalternative flavor space, with broad F&F portfolio and global reach.
Direct peers
- Amyris: Amyris pioneered precision fermentation for ingredients including sweeteners, flavors, and cosmetic actives. Despite its 2023 bankruptcy and asset restructuring, its successor entities continue operating in overlapping product categories with Manus Bio (squalane, Reb M, nootkatone), making it a structural reference point for both opportunity and execution risk in the space.
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Ginkgo Bioworks operates a synthetic biology platform that programs cells for customers across food, agriculture, and industrial biotech. Comparable to Manus Bio's BioAccelerator/BioManufacturing service model and chassis engineering capability, though Ginkgo is more platform/codebase-oriented while Manus is vertically integrated through commercial manufacturing.
- Conagen: Conagen is a precision fermentation company developing bio-based ingredients across food, flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical end-markets using engineered microbes. Directly comparable to Manus Bio in technology approach (cell factory engineering) and product categories (sweeteners, flavors, vitamins, APIs), making it the closest head-to-head competitor.
Emerging players
- Codexis: Codexis engineers enzymes and proteins for pharmaceutical and sustainable chemistry applications. Comparable to Manus Bio's AI-augmented enzyme engineering capability and computational protein design platform, with overlap in pharma ingredient manufacturing though smaller scale and different commercial focus.
Others
- BioMADE: BioMADE is a U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored national manufacturing innovation institute for industrial biotechnology. Comparable to Manus Bio as a strategic ecosystem partner (Manus participates in BioMADE-supported apprenticeship program) rather than a direct competitor — relevant for understanding the U.S. biomanufacturing policy landscape Manus operates within.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manus Bio social profiles
Digital presenceManus Bio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Manus Bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manus Bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Manus Bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manus Bio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Manus Bio
What does Manus Bio do?
Manus Bio operates a bioalternatives scale-up platform that uses engineered microbial cell factories and precision fermentation to manufacture sustainable, chemically identical versions of complex molecules traditionally sourced from plants, animals, or fossil fuels. The company sells bioalternative ingredients (Monk Fruit Sweetener, Yume M Stevia, BioNootkatone, Valencene 80, Nootkatone 70) directly to enterprise food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical customers, and also provides development and biomanufacturing service programs plus licensing of MAD7 CRISPR tools.
Is Manus Bio a public or private company?
Manus Bio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Manus Bio founded?
Manus Bio was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Manus Bio based?
Manus Bio is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Manus Bio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bioalternative Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are bioAccelerator Program, bioManufacturing Program and licensing.
Who are Manus Bio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are dsm-firmenich, Tate & Lyle, Cargill, Novonesis and Givaudan. Direct peers are Amyris, Ginkgo Bioworks and Conagen. Codexis is listed as an emerging player. BioMADE is listed as an others.
Does Manus Bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manus Bio.
What industry is Manus Bio in?
Manus Bio's product category is Industrial Biotechnology Ingredients (Bioalternatives). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAIAJ, Bio-based Food & Flavor Ingredients (Non-fuel Co-products: sweeteners, organic acids, flavors), with a secondary code of AFABAEAM, Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.