Cradle secures US$73 million in Series B to propel AI-driven protein engineering

Cradle, an Amsterdam and Zurich-based AI-powered protein engineering platform, has raised US$73 million in Series B funding. Led by IVP, with participation from existing investors Index Ventures and Kindred Capital, the funding brings Cradle's total raised to over US$100 million. The investment underscores the growing importance of AI in advancing protein engineering across industries including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food.

Founded in 2021, Cradle’s platform leverages generative AI to streamline protein design, significantly reducing the time and cost traditionally associated with R&D. Its technology has already been adopted by industry leaders such as Novo Nordisk and Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. By tailoring protein sequences to meet specific functions, Cradle helps its clients innovate more efficiently and address societal challenges ranging from sustainable manufacturing to improved therapeutics.

“Cradle was founded on the belief that generative AI could address planetary and human health challenges,” said Stef van Grieken, Cradle’s CEO & Co-founder. “Our Series B funding will help us put our platform in the hands of more scientists and accelerate the development of bio-based products.”

One notable achievement involved a biotechnology customer using Cradle’s platform to improve the performance of the P450 enzyme. The project, which had stalled using traditional methods, achieved a fourfold activity increase in just three experimental rounds. Such results demonstrate the platform's ability to save time, reduce costs, and enable breakthroughs in complex protein engineering challenges.

The new funding will be allocated to various growth initiatives. Cradle plans to enhance its machine-learning capabilities and expand its wet lab facilities in Amsterdam to create more proprietary datasets. These improvements aim to broaden the platform’s utility, enabling it to handle increasingly complex proteins and tasks.

Additionally, Cradle recently welcomed life sciences industry veteran Sam Partovi as Chief Commercial Officer. His appointment signals Cradle’s intent to deepen its impact in biotechnology and scale operations to meet increasing demand.

Cradle’s generative AI platform addresses long-standing inefficiencies in protein R&D by reducing reliance on trial-and-error methods. Traditional protein engineering often requires 10–20 experimental rounds, each lasting weeks and costing tens of thousands of dollars. Cradle's platform not only accelerates this process but also increases the likelihood of success by identifying novel solutions and avoiding dead-end projects.

Alex Lim, General Partner at IVP, emphasized Cradle’s transformative potential. “Biology is one of the domains where generative AI can have the biggest impact. Cradle’s approach is already delivering impressive results, and this funding positions them to lead the future of protein design.”

Cradle ensures data security and ownership for its customers, offering subscription-based access rather than royalty or milestone agreements. This straightforward model provides companies with a scalable and cost-effective way to innovate, whether in enzyme design, vaccine development, or sustainable chemical manufacturing.

The implications of Cradle’s platform extend far beyond any single industry. By reducing the barriers to protein engineering, Cradle empowers scientists to develop solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from creating animal-free food alternatives to combating climate change. With its sights set on scaling to serve a broader scientific audience, Cradle is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of biotechnology.

Van Grieken summed up Cradle’s vision. “Our mission is to make engineering biology easier, faster, and more cost-effective. This funding allows us to continue building a platform that drives meaningful innovation in therapeutics, agriculture, and sustainability.”

As the demand for smarter and more sustainable solutions grows, Cradle’s advancements in AI-powered protein engineering could serve as a critical enabler for industries seeking to innovate efficiently and responsibly.