Enko Chem, Inc.
Enko Chem is an AI-informed crop health company that uses its ENKOMPASS discovery platform combining DNA-encoded libraries, machine learning, and structure-based design to develop novel herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and nematicides, commercialized via partnerships with Syngenta, Bayer, and Nufarm.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersMystic, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Enko Chem, Inc. does
Enko Chem, Inc. is a private, venture-backed crop protection company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mystic, Connecticut. The company applies pharmaceutical-style drug discovery methods to agriculture, using its ENKOMPASS platform to identify novel small-molecule crop protection chemistries across four product categories: herbicides (weed control), fungicides (disease control), insecticides (insect control), and nematicides (soil-borne parasite control).
The ENKOMPASS platform integrates four technology pillars: DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) acquired exclusively from X-Chem for agricultural use, providing access to roughly 140 billion compounds; proprietary AI and machine learning models trained on billions of DEL-derived binding observations to predict molecule properties; structure-based design using protein structures and physics-based modeling; and large-scale virtual screening. Enko claims this stack identifies modes of action 75% faster and at 90% lower cost than conventional R&D, and that candidate molecules achieve a 98% reduction in environmental load versus leading products in trial conditions.
Enko operates as a B2B business with no direct farmer sales. It co-develops molecules and licenses commercialization rights to major agrochemical partners, primarily Syngenta, Bayer, and Nufarm, which distribute products through their existing global networks. Revenue is generated through licensing, milestone, and royalty structures tied to partner commercialization, though the company has not yet disclosed product sales revenue and several programs remain in field testing as of late 2025. The company has raised approximately $150M in total funding across multiple rounds including a $70M Series C in July 2022 led by Nufarm, with investors including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Anterra Capital, Eight Roads Ventures, Novalis LifeSciences, DYDX Capital, and others.
Enko Chem, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Enko Chem, Inc.
- Legal name
- Enko Chem, Inc.
- Website
- https://enko.ag
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Enko Chem is an AI-informed crop health company that uses its ENKOMPASS discovery platform combining DNA-encoded libraries, machine learning, and structure-based design to develop novel herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and nematicides, commercialized via partnerships with Syngenta, Bayer, and Nufarm.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Enko Chem, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Crop Protection
- NAICS
- Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)
- SIC
- Agricultural Chemicals (2870)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crop Protection Chemicals (Herbicides/Insecticides/Fungicides) (IMAEAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Herbicides (AFABAAAA), Insecticides (AFABAAAB)
Keywords
Where Enko Chem, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mystic
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Enko Chem, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Crop Protection Product Sales: Enko develops and commercializes novel crop protection products (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides) through partnerships with major agrochemical companies. Products are designed to be safer, more effective alternatives to existing solutions.
- Partnership and Licensing Revenue: Revenue generated through co-development agreements and licensing deals with partners like Syngenta, Bayer, and Nufarm. These strategic partnerships provide development funding and commercialization rights.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Enko Chem, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Enko Chem develops novel crop protection chemistries (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides) using its ENKOMPASS platform, which combines DNA-encoded libraries, AI, machine learning, and structure-based design. The company co-develops and licenses these molecules to major agrochemical partners (Syngenta, Bayer, Nufarm) for global commercialization to farmers.
Product overview
Enko Chem, Inc. is an AI-informed crop health company offering the ENKOMPASS™ discovery platform as its core product, which applies pharmaceutical-style drug discovery approaches (DNA-encoded libraries, AI, Machine Learning, and Structure-Based Design) to agriculture. The platform discovers and develops novel crop protection chemistries across four product categories: Weed Control, Disease Control, Insect Control, and Soil-Borne Parasite Control. The company develops molecules with novel modes of action to address pest resistance and crop diseases while ensuring safety for humans and the environment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ENKOMPASS™: Enko's AI-informed discovery platform that uses DNA-encoded libraries, machine learning, and structure-based design to identify modes of action and lead molecules for crop protection.
- ENKOMPASSTM
Products and services
- ENKOMPASS Discovery Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% faster identification of modes of action and lead molecules
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Enko Chem, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Enko Chem, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
Enko Chem, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SyngentacoreAdvanced a novel fungicide class of chemistry to field testing. The collaboration utilized Enko's ENKOMPASS discovery platform applying DNA-encoded libraries, machine learning, and structural biology. Syngenta plans field testing at several locations to assess performance for managing fungal pathogens in cereal production worldwide.
- SyngentacoreMulti-year collaboration focused on discovering novel weed control molecules targeting a new Mode of Action (MoA). The collaboration utilizes Enko's ENKOMPASS platform to identify new herbicide leads. Syngenta's 'Safer by Design' research strategy aims to deliver higher yields while lowering environmental impact. The partnership also includes fungal control research.
- X-ChemcoreAcquisition of proprietary DNA-encoded libraries from X-Chem and exclusive rights to apply them to crop agriculture. This makes Enko the first company to internalize DEL technology for agricultural applications. The tailored libraries consist of billions of molecules from X-Chem's latest generation set.
- NufarmcorePartnership to expand supply of novel herbicide solutions for farmers globally. Leverages Enko's discovery capabilities to identify new chemical solutions and trials combining Enko's herbicide candidates with Nufarm's products. Goal is creating herbicides with multiple modes of action that combat resistance. Nufarm's deep ties in Australia expand supply chain across Australia, US and Europe.
- BayercoreCollaboration to create new chemistries helping farmers manage resistant weeds. Using Enko's toolkit of proven pharma technologies including DNA-encoded libraries, machine learning and structural biology to assess 140 billion molecules based on specific target pest enzymes. Bayer brings decades of expertise in drug discovery and crop health.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Enko Chem, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AgBiome: Agricultural biotech company developing biological and chemical crop protection solutions using microbial genomics and AI-driven screening. Closely comparable as a discovery-stage crop protection company pursuing novel modes of action against pests, weeds, and fungal pathogens.
- MoA Technology: UK-based agtech using target-based discovery and novel screening approaches to develop next-generation herbicides with new modes of action. Directly comparable technology approach (target-based molecular discovery) and product focus (herbicide resistance) to Enko.
- AgPlenus: Israel-based computational crop protection company using AI/ML to design novel herbicide and fungicide molecules. Now a Syngenta subsidiary, making it a particularly relevant peer given the technology overlap and the partner relationship dynamics Enko also has with Syngenta.
Emerging players
- Sound Agriculture: Sustainable agriculture company developing crop inputs (e.g., SOURCE, BLUEPRINT) that improve nutrient efficiency and reduce synthetic fertilizer use. Comparable as a venture-backed agtech bringing new chemistry/mode-of-action solutions to growers.
- Pivot Bio: Microbial nitrogen-fixation company displacing synthetic fertilizer for major row crops. Comparable as a venture-backed agricultural input innovator using advanced biology/AI to develop novel crop input products targeting large incumbent categories.
- Inari Agriculture: Seed technology company applying AI and multiplex gene editing to develop step-change seed performance. Comparable as a venture-backed agtech combining AI/ML with biology to produce differentiated crop input products for global row crops.
- Pairwise: Agtech platform company using gene editing (CRISPR) and computational biology to develop new crop varieties and traits. Comparable as a venture-backed agtech applying computational approaches to develop novel agricultural products at scale.
- Indigo Ag: Digital and biological agriculture company with crop protection and microbial products, plus a sustainability/carbon program. Comparable as a venture-backed agtech developing novel crop input categories and partnering with major growers.
Broad incumbents
- Syngenta Group: One of the world's largest agrochemical and seed companies. Comparable as both a direct commercial partner of Enko and as a broad incumbent whose crop protection portfolio (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides) overlaps with Enko's pipeline products.
- Bayer Crop Science: Global agrochemical and seed major with deep crop protection portfolio. Comparable as both a commercial partner of Enko and as a broad incumbent with extensive internal R&D that competes in the same crop protection categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Enko Chem, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceEnko Chem, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Enko Chem, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Enko Chem, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Enko Chem, Inc. 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 Enko Chem, Inc.
What does Enko Chem, Inc. do?
Enko Chem develops novel crop protection chemistries (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides) using its ENKOMPASS platform, which combines DNA-encoded libraries, AI, machine learning, and structure-based design. The company co-develops and licenses these molecules to major agrochemical partners (Syngenta, Bayer, Nufarm) for global commercialization to farmers.
Is Enko Chem, Inc. a public or private company?
Enko Chem, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Enko Chem, Inc. founded?
Enko Chem, Inc. was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Enko Chem, Inc. based?
Enko Chem, Inc. is headquartered in Mystic, United States, in the North America region.
How does Enko Chem, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Crop Protection Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are partnership and Licensing Revenue.
Who are Enko Chem, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AgBiome, MoA Technology and AgPlenus. Emerging players are Sound Agriculture, Pivot Bio, Inari Agriculture, Pairwise and Indigo Ag. Broad incumbents are Syngenta Group and Bayer Crop Science.
Does Enko Chem, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Enko Chem, Inc..
What industry is Enko Chem, Inc. in?
Enko Chem, Inc.'s product category is Agricultural Crop Protection. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAEAI, Crop Protection Chemicals (Herbicides/Insecticides/Fungicides), with a secondary code of AFABAAAA, Herbicides. Its NAICS code is 32532 and its SIC code is 2870.