Pairwise Plants
Pairwise Plants is a Durham, North Carolina agricultural biotechnology company that uses its proprietary Fulcrum™ CRISPR platform to develop improved fruits, vegetables, and row crops, monetizing through licensing to seed and breeding companies, strategic joint ventures with agricultural majors, and direct commercialization of gene-edited consumer products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersDurham, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pairwise Plants does
Pairwise Plants is a Durham, North Carolina-based agricultural biotechnology company founded in 2017 that applies CRISPR-based gene editing to develop improved fruit, vegetable, and row crops. The company was co-founded by CEO Tom Adams and Chief Business Officer Haven Baker alongside CRISPR pioneers David Liu (Harvard/Broad Institute), Feng Zhang (MIT), and J. Keith Joung, lending the business direct lineage to foundational CRISPR science. Its core offering is the proprietary Fulcrum™ platform, which integrates three categories of editing tools — SHARC™ (Super High-Activity CRISPR) nucleases, base editors, and REDRAW™ (RNA-directed Editing With Allelic Replacement) templated editors — with AI-driven design and plant biology to accelerate trait development across crop species. Pairwise reports 11 million transformations performed, 15 crops edited, 81 potential products, and a 72% success rate in creating targeted crop improvements, supported by a self-owned patent portfolio with no reliance on external IP.
Pairwise operates a partnership-first commercial model that monetizes the Fulcrum platform through three streams: technology licensing and royalties to breeding companies, research institutions, and ag majors; strategic collaborations and joint ventures (notably with Bayer for short-stature corn and Corteva for crop resilience, the latter including a $25M investment via Corteva Catalyst); and direct commercialization of proprietary consumer-facing products such as Conscious™ Greens — the first CRISPR-edited food in North America, launched in 2022 in U.S. foodservice — and gene-edited seedless blackberries, for which the first commercial sales occurred in Colombia in 2025. Licensees and collaborators include Bayer, Corteva, Mars (cacao), IRRI (rice for smallholder farmers in Asia, Africa, Latin America), Enza Zaden, Hudson River Biotechnology, Ball Horticultural Company, Sun World (pitless cherry JV), Tropic Biosciences, CSIRO, IITA, Genus, and Wild Bioscience, among others. Customers are almost exclusively enterprise and institutional B2B counterparties; there is no direct-to-consumer sales channel for the technology itself.
The company is venture-backed, having raised approximately $155 million in total across a $25M Series A (2018, led by Deerfield and Leaps by Bayer), a $90M Series B (2021, co-led by Pontifax AgTech and Deerfield, with Temasek and Leaps by Bayer), and 2024 rounds of $25M from Corteva Catalyst and $40M from undisclosed investors. As of the latest inputs, Pairwise maintains 101–250 employees across dual Durham locations (807 East Main Street headquarters and 110 TW Alexander Drive RTP R&D site) and operates globally through its licensee network spanning North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Pairwise Plants firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pairwise Plants
- Legal name
- Pairwise Plants, LLC
- Website
- https://pairwise.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Pairwise Plants is a Durham, North Carolina agricultural biotechnology company that uses its proprietary Fulcrum™ CRISPR platform to develop improved fruits, vegetables, and row crops, monetizing through licensing to seed and breeding companies, strategic joint ventures with agricultural majors, and direct commercialization of gene-edited consumer products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pairwise Plants industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Biotechnology
- NAICS
- Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)
- SIC
- Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gene Editing Trait Development (CRISPR/TALEN/ZFN) (AFABALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seed Trait Licensing & IP Management (Licensing, freedom-to-operate) (AFABALAJ), Trait Discovery & Functional Genomics (Target ID/Validation) (AFABALAC), Transformation & Tissue Culture Platforms (Plant regeneration, delivery systems) (AFABALAH), Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF), Digital Breeding & Bioinformatics Software (Breeding informatics, decision tools) (AFABALAL)
Keywords
Where Pairwise Plants is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pairwise Plants business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Licensing the Fulcrum platform to partners globally for research and commercial purposes. Licensees include academic institutions, non-profits, and companies worldwide.
- Collaborations and Joint Ventures: Strategic collaborations with major agricultural companies like Corteva and Bayer. Includes $25M investment from Corteva and joint ventures for product development.
- Product Development and Commercialization: Developing proprietary products like Conscious Greens, seedless blackberries, and other edited produce for consumer markets.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Pairwise Plants product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pairwise develops and licenses its proprietary Fulcrum™ gene editing platform, integrating CRISPR gene editing tools, AI, and plant biology to enable precise development of improved crop varieties. The company generates revenue through technology licensing to agricultural companies, breeding firms, and research institutions, and through commercialization of proprietary gene-edited produce including Conscious™ Greens (the first CRISPR-edited food in North America) and seedless blackberries.
Product overview
Pairwise operates as an agricultural gene editing company with a platform-centric model. The Fulcrum® Platform serves as the core technology infrastructure, integrating CRISPR gene editing tools (SHARC™ nucleases, base editors, REDRAW™ templated editors), artificial intelligence, and trait libraries to accelerate development of climate-resilient, nutritious, and sustainable crops. The company commercializes its innovations through two channels: direct-to-consumer food products including Conscious™ Greens (the first CRISPR-edited food in North America) and seedless blackberries (with compact, thornless, and seedless traits); and platform licensing to agricultural industry partners including Corteva, Bayer, Mars, IRRI, Enza Zaden, and others who leverage Fulcrum® tools for their own crop development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fulcrum Platform: Proprietary plant gene editing platform integrating CRISPR technology, AI, and plant biology for accelerated development of climate-resilient crops
- SHARC
- Conscious Greens
- Seedless Blackberry
Products and services
- Fulcrum® Platform Integrated plant gene editing platform combining proprietary CRISPR tools, artificial intelligence, and trait libraries to enable precise, flexible genome editing across diverse crop species for developing climate-resilient, disease-tolerant, and high-yield varieties. Licensed to breeding companies, agricultural firms, and research institutions worldwide.
- SHARC™ (Super High-Activity CRISPR) Proprietary high-activity CRISPR enzyme used for cutting, base editing, and templated editing in the Fulcrum platform. Available as a standalone licensable tool for academic, nonprofit, and commercial partners across plants, animals, therapeutics, and other fields.
- REDRAW™ (RNA-directed Editing With Allelic Replacement) Templated gene editing tool within the Fulcrum platform that rewrites short DNA sequences, enabling precise multi-letter genetic changes analogous to replacing an entire word rather than a single letter. Part of the Fulcrum platform's three categories of editing tools.
- Conscious™ Greens Pairwise's first commercial product and the first CRISPR-edited food in North America. Gene-edited leafy greens developed for improved taste, convenience, and nutritional value, sold through the US foodservice channel.
- Seedless Blackberry World's first seedless blackberry created using the Fulcrum platform. Features small, soft seeds similar to seedless grapes or watermelons, combined with compact and thornless traits for efficient harvesting, higher density planting, and potential yield increases of 50%+ per acre.
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% success rate in creating targeted crop improvements
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pairwise Plants
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pairwise Plants technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Pairwise Plants partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- MarscorePartnership to accelerate cacao R&D using gene editing tools to improve crop yields and adapt to climate challenges. Addresses drought, aging trees, and disease affecting cocoa production in West Africa.
- CortevacoreStrategic collaboration for gene-editing solutions for crop resilience. Includes $25M investment via Corteva Catalyst and formation of a joint venture for five years to accelerate delivery of advanced gene editing technologies for crop yield improvement. Leverages Corteva's breeding leadership and Pairwise's gene editing capabilities.
- BayercoreInitial $100M collaboration (2018) for gene editing in corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, canola. Expanded with new 5-year multi-million dollar collaboration focused on short-stature corn for Bayer's Preceon smart corn system. Demonstrated 20% increase in kernel row numbers in edited corn.
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)coreLicensed CRISPR platform to IRRI to develop rice varieties with higher yields, climate resilience, and improved nutrition. Nonexclusive rights to benefit smallholder farmers across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- Enza ZadenmajorStrategic agreement to license Fulcrum Platform for sustainable vegetable breeding. Netherlands-based global vegetable seed company evaluating gene editing for research with future commercialization contingent on regulatory developments.
- Wild BiosciencemajorLicensing agreement granting access to Fulcrum genome editing tools for crop research and development. Wild Bioscience integrating tools into AI-driven pipeline for resilient crops for climate adaptation, yield improvement, and carbon removal.
- Hudson River BiotechnologymajorLicensing agreement giving Hudson River access to Fulcrum plant gene editing platform. Hudson River integrates Fulcrum tools into editing services for crop improvement customers in vegetable, soft fruit, and other species. Netherlands-based independent plant biotechnology company.
- Ball Horticultural CompanymajorLicensing agreement granting Ball access to Fulcrum genome editing platform. First application in ornamental crops. Includes commercial option for edited ornamental varieties. Covers roses, impatiens, petunias, hydrangeas, dianthus, begonias, and 40+ other ornamental species.
- Sun WorldmajorJoint venture launched September 2024 to create world's first pitless cherry. Leverages Pairwise's gene editing technology and Sun World's breeding expertise.
- Tropic BiosciencesmajorLicensing agreement for base editing technology for banana and coffee innovation. UK-based agricultural technology company focused on tropical crops.
- CSIROmajorCommercial license to Fulcrum platform covering plants, livestock, aquaculture, and microbes. Among broadest licenses issued by Pairwise, covering diverse organisms and applications.
- IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture)core$3.87M Gates Foundation grant for 'YOAGE' project to optimize yam plant architecture through gene editing. Four-year project to develop semi-dwarf yam varieties for mechanized agriculture in Nigeria. Addresses labor and environmental impact of traditional staking.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Pairwise Plants competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Inari Agriculture: Seed design company using AI and multiplex gene editing to develop step-change crop varieties. Direct competitor in plant gene editing with a similar platform-licensing and trait-development model targeting major seed companies.
- Tropic Biosciences: UK-based agricultural gene editing company focused on bananas, coffee, and rice using CRISPR-based tools. Direct peer with overlapping editing technology and B2B licensing model — also a Pairwise licensee.
- Cibus: Gene editing company for agriculture using its proprietary Rapid Trait Development System for crops like canola, rice, and wheat. Direct peer in agricultural trait development with a similar trait-licensing go-to-market.
- Benson Hill: Crop improvement company combining plant genomics, breeding, and data analytics to develop improved soy and yellow pea varieties. Closely comparable as a plant genetics platform targeting food/ingredient markets via B2B partnerships.
Emerging players
- Caribou Biosciences: CRISPR-based genome editing company whose technology origin overlaps with Pairwise's founders' work. While primarily focused on human therapeutics, its underlying CRISPR platform (Cas12a, Cas14) is comparable technology being adapted into multiple fields including agriculture.
- Hudson River Biotechnology: Netherlands-based plant biotech offering gene editing services to crop improvement customers; Pairwise Fulcrum licensee. Comparable as an emerging plant gene editing services platform with overlapping customer base in vegetables and soft fruit.
- Wild Bioscience: UK-based crop genetics company using AI-driven approaches for climate-resilient crops; Pairwise Fulcrum licensee. Comparable as an emerging plant genomics company integrating gene editing with AI for trait discovery.
Broad incumbents
- Bayer Crop Science: One of the world's largest agricultural input companies with a major in-house gene editing program and Pairwise's anchor collaboration partner. Comparable as both a customer and a competitor developing overlapping trait pipelines.
- Corteva Agriscience: Global pure-play agriculture company with proprietary gene editing capabilities and a $25M equity investment plus JV with Pairwise. Functions as both anchor customer and competitor in crop trait development.
Regional players
- Enza Zaden: Global vegetable seed company headquartered in the Netherlands that licensed Pairwise's Fulcrum platform for vegetable breeding. Comparable as a peer in commercial vegetable breeding and a Fulcrum licensee in the European market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pairwise Plants social profiles
Digital presencePairwise Plants financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pairwise Plants leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Pairwise Plants funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pairwise Plants M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pairwise Plants
What does Pairwise Plants do?
Pairwise develops and licenses its proprietary Fulcrum™ gene editing platform, integrating CRISPR gene editing tools, AI, and plant biology to enable precise development of improved crop varieties. The company generates revenue through technology licensing to agricultural companies, breeding firms, and research institutions, and through commercialization of proprietary gene-edited produce including Conscious™ Greens (the first CRISPR-edited food in North America) and seedless blackberries.
Is Pairwise Plants a public or private company?
Pairwise Plants is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pairwise Plants founded?
Pairwise Plants was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Pairwise Plants based?
Pairwise Plants is headquartered in Durham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pairwise Plants make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are collaborations and Joint Ventures and product Development and Commercialization.
Who are Pairwise Plants's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Inari Agriculture, Tropic Biosciences, Cibus and Benson Hill. Emerging players are Caribou Biosciences, Hudson River Biotechnology and Wild Bioscience. Broad incumbents are Bayer Crop Science and Corteva Agriscience. Enza Zaden is listed as a regional player.
Does Pairwise Plants have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pairwise Plants.
What industry is Pairwise Plants in?
Pairwise Plants's product category is Agricultural Biotechnology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABALAB, Gene Editing Trait Development (CRISPR/TALEN/ZFN), with a secondary code of AFABALAJ, Seed Trait Licensing & IP Management (Licensing, freedom-to-operate). Its NAICS code is 3253 and its SIC code is 6794.