Hoofprint Biome

What Hoofprint Biome does

Hoofprint Biome is an agricultural biotechnology startup founded in 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina, by NC State Ph.D. graduates Kathryn Polkoff (CEO) and Scott Collins (CSO). The company develops enzyme-based feed additives and probiotics designed to modify the cattle rumen microbiome, with the dual objective of reducing methane emissions and improving feed conversion efficiency. Its core technology centers on a probiotic yeast that enters the rumen and releases natural enzymes targeting methane-producing microbes, addressing a problem the company frames as cattle methane accounting for 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions and costing cattle up to 12% of feed energy.

The product is delivered as a feed additive that farmers and feedlot operators incorporate into existing cattle feeding operations. The company's go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales, with direct engagement on cattle farms and feedlot operations for on-farm trials and commercial deployment. Primary customers are cattle farmers and feedlot operators seeking to improve feed efficiency and reduce environmental impact, with a secondary addressable segment being the broader sustainable agriculture sector.

Hoofprint Biome has raised approximately $22.17 million in cumulative funding across a May 2023 seed, two 2023 pre-seed rounds, and an April 2025 Series A led by SOSV with participation from Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Breakthrough Energy Fellows, Alexandria Venture Investments, AgriZeroNZ, Good Growth Capital, Ponderosa Ventures, and Twynam. The company operates with 1-10 employees, has no public revenue disclosure, and is currently transitioning from R&D into commercial deployment of its first product line.

Name

Hoofprint Biome

Legal name

Hoofprint Biome

Website

https://hoofprintbiome.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hoofprint Biome is a Raleigh-based agricultural biotech startup that develops enzyme-based probiotics and feed additives for cattle to reduce methane emissions and improve feed efficiency, selling directly to farmers and feedlot operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed Additives

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Medicated & Functional Ruminant Feed (Ionophores, Buffers, Yeast/Probiotics, Mycotoxin Binders) (AFADAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enzymes (Phytase, Xylanase, Protease) (AFADALAD), Immune & Stress Modulators (Beta-glucans, Nucleotides) (AFADAKAH)

Keywords

• Livestock methane reduction
• Cattle feed additives
• Rumen microbiome engineering
• Animal probiotics
• Agricultural biotechnology

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Enzyme-based Feed Additives: The company generates revenue through the sale of enzyme-based feed additives and probiotics for cattle. The product is delivered as a feed additive that farmers incorporate into cattle feed to reduce methane emissions and improve feed efficiency. Currently in commercial deployment and on-farm trial phase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hoofprint Biome develops and sells enzyme-based feed additives (delivered via probiotic yeasts) for cattle that modify the rumen microbiome to reduce methane emissions while improving feed efficiency and nutrient absorption. The product is sold as a feed additive that farmers incorporate into cattle feed, with commercial deployment via direct on-farm trials with cattle farmers and feedlot operators.

Product overview

Hoofprint Biome is a biotech startup developing a single unified product: enzyme-based feed additives delivered via probiotic yeasts that enter cattle's rumen and release natural enzymes. The probiotics and enzymes work together to modify the cattle microbiome, eliminating methane production while improving digestive efficiency and feed conversion. The product represents an integrated biological solution targeting both environmental sustainability (methane reduction) and agricultural productivity (improved yield).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hoofprint Biome Enzyme-Based Feed Additives Enzyme-based feed additives and probiotics for cattle that modify the rumen microbiome to significantly reduce methane emissions while improving feed efficiency and nutrient absorption. The probiotic yeast enters the rumen and releases enzymes that target microbes responsible for methane production. Designed for cattle farmers and feedlot operators integrating the additive into existing cattle feed operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces methane emissions from cattle significantly
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elanco Animal Health: Major animal health company that has commercialized Bovaer (3-NOP), a feed additive that reduces enteric methane emissions in cattle. Direct competitor in the same product category targeting the same cattle farmer customer base.
• CH4 Global: Climate-tech company developing Asparagopsis (red seaweed) feed supplements to reduce cattle methane emissions. Competes in the same methane-reduction feed additive category with a different biological mechanism.
• Mootral: Develops garlic and citrus-based feed supplements (Mootral Ruminant) that reduce enteric methane in cattle. Direct competitor with a natural-extract-based approach to the same problem.
• ArkeaBio: Agtech startup developing a vaccine-based approach to reducing cattle methane emissions through microbiome modulation. Competes in the same methane-reduction space with an immunological rather than feed-additive approach.
• Symborg: Agricultural biotechnology company with a portfolio of microbial solutions, including biostimulants and methane-reduction work in livestock. Comparable biotech-led approach to sustainable crop and livestock inputs.
• Agolin: Develops essential oil blend feed additives (Agolin Ruminant) that improve feed efficiency and reduce methane in cattle. Direct competitor with a botanical-based mechanism targeting the same on-farm use case.
• Lallemand Animal Nutrition: Global leader in yeast and bacteria-based feed additives for livestock, including rumen-specific probiotics. Comparable in delivery mechanism (yeast-based products for cattle) and customer base.

Emerging players

• Number 8 Bio: Synthetic biology startup developing feed additives to reduce livestock methane emissions. Closely comparable early-stage peer using engineered biology for the same end customer.

Broad incumbents

• dsm-firmenich: Global nutrition and health major with deep animal nutrition portfolio and Bovaer partnership. Large incumbent serving the same cattle feed additive market with much broader product and geographic scope.
• Cargill: Major agribusiness with a large animal nutrition business and active sustainability/regenerative agriculture programs. Serves the same cattle feedlot customer base with broader feed and sustainability offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hoofprint Biome