Oxford Biotrans
Oxford Biotrans is a University of Oxford spin-out founded in 2013 that develops proprietary enzymatic process technologies to produce high-value chemical compounds for B2B industrial customers. The firm is privately held, based in Oxford, UK, and operates with 11-50 employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Oxford Biotrans does
Oxford Biotrans is a University of Oxford spin-out founded in 2013 and headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom. The company develops enzymatic process technologies that produce high-value chemical compounds, applying biocatalysis as an alternative to traditional chemical synthesis routes. Its underlying technology is rooted in proprietary enzyme-based processes derived from academic research at the University of Oxford, and the firm operates as a specialty chemicals / industrial biotechnology business with a small team of 11-50 employees.
The company has raised approximately $7.6M in cumulative equity funding across three disclosed rounds in 2013 (~$970K seed), 2015 (~$3.9M led by Imperial Innovations), and 2017 (~$2.8M led by Touchstone Innovations), with participation from the University of Oxford, Perivoli Innovations, and Oxford Investment Consultants LLP. Leadership comprises founder Luet Wong and CEO Jason King. The firm's business model is consistent with a B2B specialty chemicals model — selling or licensing enzymatic-produced ingredients to industrial customers in sectors such as flavors and fragrances, agrochemicals, or pharmaceuticals — though the input data does not disclose specific products, customers, pricing, or distribution channels. The company's website domain currently appears to be compromised, and primary-source product and commercial details are not available in the provided data, so this description is limited to what the firmographic, funding, and leadership records directly support.
Oxford Biotrans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oxford Biotrans
- Legal name
- Oxford Biotrans
- Website
- https://oxfordbiotrans.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Oxford Biotrans is a University of Oxford spin-out founded in 2013 that develops proprietary enzymatic process technologies to produce high-value chemical compounds for B2B industrial customers. The firm is privately held, based in Oxford, UK, and operates with 11-50 employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oxford Biotrans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bioprocess Development & Scale-Up/Scale-Down Platforms (DoE, high-throughput, modeling) (HLAAAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA), Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB)
Keywords
Where Oxford Biotrans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Oxford Biotrans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain
Oxford Biotrans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oxford Biotrans is a University of Oxford spin-out that develops enzymatic process technologies to produce high-value chemical compounds. The company applies proprietary biocatalysis methods to convert feedstocks into specialty chemicals used in industrial applications. Its technology platform is built on academic research originating at the University of Oxford.
Product overview
No product information available in the provided source data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- High-value chemical compounds via enzymatic processes
Companies that use Oxford Biotrans
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Oxford Biotrans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Oxford Biotrans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves3 records
Oxford Biotrans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Carbios: Carbios is a French biotech company using engineered enzymes for plastic recycling and bio-based polymer production. It shares Oxford Biotrans' enzymatic process technology foundation and biomanufacturing orientation, though in a different end market.
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Ginkgo Bioworks is a US synthetic biology platform that engineers organisms for industrial production of specialty chemicals and ingredients. It is an emerging player with overlapping bioprocess development capabilities serving similar end markets.
Others
- Cargill: Cargill's bioindustrial business develops and supplies fermentation-derived and enzyme-based ingredients for food, feed, and industrial customers. It is thematically related to Oxford Biotrans through the broader bio-based ingredients value chain and is a potential customer or acquirer.
Broad incumbents
- Novozymes: Novozymes is the world's largest industrial enzyme manufacturer, supplying biocatalysts across food, beverage, and chemical industries. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping enzymatic technology, though at a vastly larger scale than Oxford Biotrans.
- DSM (Royal DSM): DSM has a large bio-based ingredients and specialty chemicals portfolio, including flavors, fragrances, and nutritional ingredients produced via fermentation and biocatalysis. It is a broad incumbent with potential overlap and partnership interest in Oxford Biotrans' technology.
- DuPont Industrial Biosciences: DuPont's Industrial Biosciences unit develops enzymes and fermentation processes for chemicals, food, and consumer products. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping enzymatic and bioprocessing capabilities serving similar end-use markets.
Direct peers
- Codexis: Codexis is a US-based enzyme engineering company that develops biocatalysts for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing. It is the closest direct peer to Oxford Biotrans given its focus on enzymatic process technology for high-value chemical products.
- Isobionics: Isobionics develops fermentation-based processes for natural flavor and fragrance ingredients. It is directly comparable to Oxford Biotrans in producing bio-based high-value aroma chemicals for the F&F industry.
- Amyris: Amyris uses synthetic biology and fermentation to produce specialty ingredients including flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics materials. It competes with Oxford Biotrans in delivering bio-based high-value compounds to consumer goods customers.
- Evolva (now part of ADM): Evolva developed fermentation-based routes to flavor and fragrance ingredients such as nootkatone and resveratrol. It is a direct peer to Oxford Biotrans in the bio-based specialty ingredients space, with overlapping target molecules and customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Oxford Biotrans social profiles
Digital presenceOxford Biotrans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oxford Biotrans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Oxford Biotrans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oxford Biotrans 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 Oxford Biotrans
What does Oxford Biotrans do?
Oxford Biotrans is a University of Oxford spin-out that develops enzymatic process technologies to produce high-value chemical compounds. The company applies proprietary biocatalysis methods to convert feedstocks into specialty chemicals used in industrial applications. Its technology platform is built on academic research originating at the University of Oxford.
Is Oxford Biotrans a public or private company?
Oxford Biotrans is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Oxford Biotrans founded?
Oxford Biotrans was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Oxford Biotrans based?
Oxford Biotrans is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Oxford Biotrans's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Carbios and Ginkgo Bioworks. Cargill is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Novozymes, DSM (Royal DSM) and DuPont Industrial Biosciences. Direct peers are Codexis, Isobionics, Amyris and Evolva (now part of ADM).
Does Oxford Biotrans have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oxford Biotrans.
What industry is Oxford Biotrans in?
Oxford Biotrans's product category is Specialty Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAJAF, Bioprocess Development & Scale-Up/Scale-Down Platforms (DoE, high-throughput, modeling), with a secondary code of EUAAAIAA, Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.