British firm BoobyBiome, which creates breast milk microbiome solutions to boost infant gut and immune health, has secured €2.8 million in a seed funding round led by Empirical Ventures.
- Established in 2019 by Dr Lydia Mapstone, Dr Sioned Jones, and Dr Tara O’Driscoll, BoobyBiome is a biotech company that transforms breast milk microbiome research into practical solutions for infant health.
- The firm has built the world’s largest high-resolution breast milk microbiome database and a biobank of proprietary bacterial strains critical for gut and immune development.
- BoobyBiome develops two main innovations: a patented storage device that preserves the natural microbiome, vitamins, and antioxidants in expressed milk, and a live microbiome drop containing beneficial bacteria isolated from breast milk to support the microbiome of babies who are formula-fed, preterm, or born via C-section.
Details of the deal
- The seed funding round was led by Empirical Ventures, a UK deep-tech VC investing in early-stage scientific innovations to tackle global challenges.
“At Empirical Ventures, we believe entrepreneurial scientists like the BoobyBiome team are uniquely capable of driving real, positive change in the world. We’re excited to back their journey and to see the impact this innovation will have on families everywhere," claims Dr Ben Miles, co-founder and General Partner at Empirical Ventures.
- The investemnt also saw participation from The Helm, XFactor Ventures, Lavender Ventures, Kayan Ventures, and Evenlode Investment. The round also attracted several angel investors, such as Dominic Hollamby, Lord Ara Darzi, Yael Cohen, and Vanessa Colomar, among others.
- BoobyBiome plans to use the fresh funding to advance the commercial launch of its proprietary breast milk storage device, continue research and development of its live microbiome drop, form partnerships with global infant bottle companies, and expand its commercial team as it scales internationally.
