BEAM Circular Accelerator Powered by gener8tor Announces Second Cohort of Startups Advancing Circular Bioeconomy Innovation
Program selects five companies from 200 applications to receive $100K in funding and strategic support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2026
MODESTO, Calif. – The BEAM Circular Accelerator in partnership with gener8tor today announced the five biotechnology startups selected for the program’s second cohort of companies. Chosen from 200 applications, the cohort represents the breadth and quality of the next wave of innovation in biomanufacturing, waste transformation, and circular solutions in agriculture and natural resources.
The 12-week hybrid accelerator program supports early to mid-stage companies advancing the circular bioeconomy in California's agricultural heartland, the North San Joaquin Valley. Selected startups receive $100,000 in total support from BEAM Circular, including grants and incentive funding for future utilization of the CA Bioeconomy Innovation Campus. Participants also benefit from gener8tor's world-class concierge accelerator program, connections to 100+ mentors and investors from the bioeconomy and venture capital industry, and access to leading bioeconomy companies, academic and science institutions. The 2026 program is sponsored by the Almond Board of California and the State of California through the CA Jobs First initiative.
Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular, said, "Building on the success of our inaugural cohort, this second class of startups reflects the accelerating interest from entrepreneurs who see the enormous potential of California's agricultural heartland. We're proud to support these founders as they advance solutions that create value for both communities and the planet."
"The quality and volume of applications for this second cohort exceeded our expectations and confirms the growing momentum behind the circular bioeconomy," said Darko Mandich, Managing Director of the BEAM Circular Accelerator. "These five companies represent exactly the kind of innovation the San Joaquin Valley needs—founders turning agricultural waste and underutilized feedstocks into high-value products that can scale globally while creating economic opportunity locally."
The program kicked off this week in Modesto, CA and will culminate in a public showcase event at BEAM Circular’s BioCatalyst 2026 on May 21st in Lodi, CA, where founders will pitch to an exclusive audience of investors, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. For more information and to register to attend Biocatalyst 2026, please visit beamcircular.org/biocatalyst.
2026 Cohort Companies:
Fermeate — Fermeate harnesses cutting-edge optogenetics and light-controlled gene circuits to revolutionize microbial biomanufacturing. Light-controlled gene circuits open a new era in biomanufacturing. With software-like level of control and fast on/off switching, Fermeate enables biology to live up to the ideal of “programmability”. Fermeate’s technology is an add-on to existing fermentation infrastructure and can be integrated into already-commercially deployed microbes, enabling up to 3x higher productivity across the production of proteins, food and nutritional ingredients, industrial chemicals, and fuels. Fermeate is actively partnering with multinational companies to deploy its light-based fermentation technology, delivering improved process economics without requiring new tanks or major facility retrofits.
Krokos Bio — Krokos Bio pioneers a biotech platform for producing high-value botanical ingredients using plant cell culture and underutilized agricultural side streams. By growing real plant cells in controlled bioreactors, Krokos Bio delivers consistent, year-round production with full-spectrum bioactivity, independent of seasonal harvests or climate conditions. Starting with saffron, Krokos Bio targets botanicals that are expensive, low-yield, and exposed to climate and geopolitical risk, offering a scalable approach to supply chain volatility in the global botanical ingredients market.
Ruby Bio — Ruby Bio uses naturally occurring yeast to convert low-cost and upcycled feedstocks into high-value, biodegradable, and non-toxic ingredients and chemicals. Its proprietary biosynthesis platform operates as a flexible biorefinery, leveraging a single fermentation process fueled by a range of possible feedstocks to manufacture multiple downstream products at cost parity with mainstream synthetic alternatives. The platform runs on conventional corn sugar and sugarcane, and is also compatible with a broad range of upcycled sidestreams, including agricultural residues, crude glycerol, and dairy waste streams. Ruby Bio's product portfolio spans surfactants, food emulsifiers, drop-in oleochemical replacements, polyol sweeteners, and polymer performance additives, serving consumer care, food, and industrial markets.
Supercarb — Supercarb produces plastic-free performance fibers from upcycled biomass that are inherently flame-retardant, anti-odor, and fast-drying—eliminating the need for toxic finishing chemicals like PFAS, silver, and phosphorus. By embedding performance at the fiber level, Supercarb helps brands avoid costly chemical treatments and wastewater processing, unlocking up to $13B in savings. The technology leverages abundant waste feedstocks, including seaweed and agricultural peel waste, positioning Supercarb to scale sustainably across the textile market.
Tastee Tape — Tastee Tape develops a biodegradable, food-safe, and cost-competitive flexible packaging film that enables food CPG brands to eliminate PFAS and comply with rapidly evolving sustainability regulations. Its patent-pending technology delivers equivalent performance at up to 4x lower cost than alternative bioplastics, removing a key barrier to adoption. The company has gained strong market validation with national exposure including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, CNN, NBC, and TIME's Best Inventions, signaling broad commercial and consumer interest.
About BEAM Circular
BEAM Circular is a nonprofit organization that serves as a hub for circular bioeconomy innovation, workforce development, and industry growth in California’s agricultural heartland. BEAM Circular works with multi-sector partners across the Central Valley and beyond to develop bio-based solutions that transform waste into valuable products while creating local economic opportunities and addressing environmental challenges.
About gener8tor
gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture capital funds, and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor has expanded across the U.S. and internationally, building partnerships with governments, corporations, universities, and economic development organizations to drive entrepreneurship and economic impact. gener8tor operates accelerators across 45 cities, 25 states and 3 countries, working with more than 300 startups per year. To date, gener8tor has worked with more than 2,100 startups that have cumulatively gone on to raise more than $2.9B in financing and employ more than 11,000 people.
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