Ginkgo Bioworks – The Organism Company

Ginkgo Bioworks is a notable American biotechnology company established in 2008. The company was founded by a group of five scientists hailing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with Jason Kelly leading the team. For more detailed information, you can refer to the company’s Wikipedia page.

Ginkgo Bioworks – Company Highlights

Attribute	Value
Stock Price	DNA (NYSE) $1.79 +0.13 (+7.83%)
Stock last updated:	Aug 23, 4:00 PM EDT
Revenue	478 million USD (2022)
Headquarters	Boston, MA
Founder	Reshma P. Shetty
Subsidiaries	Ginkgo Bioworks Inc., Zymergen
Founded	2008
President	Reshma P. Shetty
CEO	Jason Kelly
Website	https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/

Ginkgo Bioworks – About

Ginkgo Bioworks, also known as “The Organism Company,” is a leading player in the field of synthetic biology. Their ambitious goal is to establish the first platform company in this domain, a goal that has generated both enthusiastic support and critical skepticism. This essay intends to explore some of the major concepts that Ginkgo Bioworks is pursuing, offering insight into the potential trajectory of synthetic biology as a whole.

Currently, Ginkgo Bioworks is utilizing their platform to engineer microorganisms with a range of applications. These applications include creating sustainable agriculture solutions, producing valuable chemicals through microbial engineering, and enabling targeted delivery of therapeutics.

Ginkgo Bioworks – Industry

The biotechnology industry, within which Ginkgo Bioworks operates, is a multifaceted field with significant growth potential. As of 2023, the industry has been experiencing steady expansion, driven by advancements in healthcare, agriculture, industrial processes, and other sectors. The integration of biotechnology with other technologies, along with its global reach, indicates promising growth opportunities through 2025 and beyond.

The biotechnology industry is characterized by intense competition among both established companies and startups.

As of the latest available data, the biotechnology industry has shown impressive growth. The market size and revenue of biotech companies continue to expand globally by USD 1,094.6 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 2772.7 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 14.2% between 2023 and 2030.

Ginkgo Bioworks operates within the biotechnology industry, a dynamic sector that harnesses biological systems, organisms, and cellular processes to develop innovative products and solutions across various domains.

Ginkgo Bioworks – Founders

Name	Title
Jason Kelly	FOUNDER
Reshma Shetty	FOUNDER
Barry Canton	FOUNDER
Austin Che	FOUNDER
Tom Knight	FOUNDER

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly is a prominent figure in the field of biotechnology and a co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks. With a visionary outlook, Kelly has been a driving force behind the company’s groundbreaking advancements. As the CEO, he has led Ginkgo Bioworks in its mission to leverage synthetic biology for diverse applications.

Reshma Shetty

Reshma Shetty is a co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks and a significant figure in the biotechnology landscape. As one of the original founders, Shetty has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s vision and direction. Her contributions have been instrumental in Ginkgo’s rise as a leading force in synthetic biology.

Shetty’s scientific expertise and entrepreneurial spirit have been key drivers behind Ginkgo’s success. With a background in biological engineering, she has been instrumental in bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and practical applications.

Barry Canton

Barry Canton is a co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks and a key influencer in the biotechnology realm. As one of the original founders, Canton has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s trajectory and accomplishments.

Canton’s expertise in synthetic biology and his innovative mindset have been fundamental to Ginkgo’s success. With a background in biological engineering, he has been instrumental in translating complex scientific concepts into tangible applications.

Austin Che

Austin Che is a co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, making significant contributions to the company’s growth and accomplishments. As one of the original founders, Che has been instrumental in shaping Ginkgo’s journey as a pioneering force in the field of synthetic biology.

By co-founding Ginkgo, Che has also become an advocate for the transformative power of biotechnology. His dedication to creating solutions that address challenges in industries ranging from healthcare to manufacturing has positioned Ginkgo as a trailblazer in the biotech sector.

Tom Knight

Tom Knight is a co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks and a central figure in the company’s impactful journey in the field of synthetic biology. As one of the original founders, Knight’s contributions have been pivotal in shaping Ginkgo’s vision and accomplishments.

Tom Knight’s role as a co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks underscores his innovative thinking, interdisciplinary expertise, and dedication to advancing the field of synthetic biology.

Knight’s involvement highlights his dedication to the advancement of synthetic biology as a transformative technology. His work with Ginkgo exemplifies his commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the intersection of biology and technology.

Key Financial Highlights from Ginkgo Bioworks’ Q2 2023

This financial report is officially shared by Ginkgo Bioworks in a press release published on PR News Wire.

Metric	Q2 2023
Total revenue	$81 million
Cell Engineering revenue	$45 million
Cell Engineering services revenue growth	+72% year-over-year
Biosecurity revenue	$35 million
Biosecurity gross margin	49%
New Cell Programs added	21
Loss from operations	$184 million
Adjusted EBITDA	-$75 million
Cash and cash equivalents	$1.1 billion
Full year 2023 guidance:
– Total revenue	$245-$260 million
– Cell Engineering revenue	$145-$160 million
– Biosecurity revenue	At least $100 million
– New Cell Programs	100

The key highlights are the 72% growth in Cell Engineering services revenue, the addition of 21 new Cell Programs, and the maintenance of a strong cash position of $1.1 billion. The outlook projects continued Cell Engineering growth and at least 100 new Cell Programs for 2023.

Ginkgo Bioworks Investors

Investor	Status
General Atlantic	Exited
Bill Gates	Exited
Cascade Investment	Exited
Viking Global Investors	Exited
Y Combinator (Formerly Cambridge Seed)	Exited
Farzad (Zod) Nazem	Exited
iGlobe Partners	Exited
Vast Ventures	Exited
OS Fund	Exited
David Beyer	Exited
Felicis Ventures	Exited
Senator Investment Group	Exited
Baillie Gifford	Exited
Allen & Company	Exited
11.2 Capital	Exited
Ian McNish	Exited
Illumina	Exited
Catapult VC	Exited
Azure Capital Partners	Exited
Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp	Exited
Putnam Investments	Exited
Morgan Stanley	Exited
Bain Capital	Exited
T. Rowe Price (Formerly Rowe Price-Fleming International)	Exited
Next Ventures UK	Exited
MassVentures	Exited
TSVC	Exited
In-Q-Tel	Exited
ARK Invest	Active
Microventures	Exited
MassChallenge	Exited
Hemisphere Ventures	Exited
NSF – National Science Foundation	Exited
SOSV	Exited
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)	Exited
Starling Ventures	Exited
Starling Ventures	Exited

DATE	INVESTORS	AMOUNT	ROUND
N/A	Farzad (Zod) Nazemi, Globe Partners, Vast Ventures, OS Fund, David Beyer, Felicis Ventures, Senator Investment Group, Allen & Company, 11.2 Capital, Ian McNish, Catapult VC, Azure Capital Partners, Next Ventures UK, MassVentures, TSVC, In-Q-Tel, and more	–	–
Dec 2017*	General Atlantic, Y Combinator (Formerly Cambridge Seed), Bill Gates, Cascade Investment, Viking Global Investors	$275m	Series D
Sep 2019	General Atlantic, Cascade Investment, Viking Global Investors	$290m	Series E
May 2020*	General Atlantic, Illumina, Viking Global Investors	$70.0m	Late VC
May 2021	Bain Capital, Morgan Stanley, Baillie Gifford, Putnam Investments, Cascade Investment, ARK Invest, T. Rowe Price (Formerly Rowe Price-Fleming International)	$775m	SPAC Private Placement
May 2021	Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp	$1.7b	SPAC IPO
Oct 2021	ARK Invest	$15.9m	Post IPO Equity
Total Funding	–	$1.6b	–

The information provided in the table is verified from reliable sources as it pertains to financial and investment data. Our main source of data is CrunchBase.

With a funding journey that mirrors its pioneering spirit. Since its inception, the company has secured a total funding of $1.6 billion, a testament to its transformative potential.

Early backers, including Farzad (Zod) Nazemi and venture firms like Globe Partners and Vast Ventures, recognized Ginkgo’s promise. The momentum escalated with notable figures like Bill Gates joining the fold, and strategic partnerships with Illumina and Viking Global Investors.

Key milestones dot the funding trajectory. A robust Series D round in 2017, including General Atlantic and Y Combinator, set the stage. A subsequent Series E round in 2019 raised $290 million, elevating Ginkgo’s valuation to $3.9 billion.

Mergers & Acquisition of Ginkgo Bioworks

Transaction Name	Acquiree Name	Acquirer Name	Announced Date
Altar acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks	Altar	Ginkgo Bioworks	Oct 4, 2022
Circularis Biotechnologies acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks	Circularis Biotechnologies	Ginkgo Bioworks	Oct 4, 2022
Zymergen acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks	Zymergen	Ginkgo Bioworks	Jul 25, 2022
Bitome acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks	Bitome	Ginkgo Bioworks	Jun 6, 2022
Dutch DNA acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks	Dutch DNA	Ginkgo Bioworks	May 17, 2021

Here is a more detailed summary of Ginkgo Bioworks’ key M&A transactions:

Altar – Ginkgo acquired Altar in October 2022 for $150 million in cash and stock. Altar is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing engineered immune cells for cancer therapies. The acquisition expands Ginkgo’s capabilities in cell therapy and gene engineering.

Circularis Biotechnologies – Ginkgo acquired Circularis in October 2022 for $44 million in cash. Circularis is a metabolic engineering company that designs microbes to produce sustainable chemicals. The acquisition strengthens Ginkgo’s cell programming abilities for specialty chemicals.

Zymergen – Ginkgo’s largest acquisition to date is Zymergen in July 2022 for $300 million in cash and stock. Zymergen is a synthetic biology company with proprietary AI and automation technologies. The acquisition provided Ginkgo with additional infrastructure, talent, and IP in organism engineering.

Bitome – Ginkgo acquired Bitome, a DNA synthesis company, in June 2022 for $44 million in cash and stock. The acquisition allows Ginkgo to expand and control a key part of its organism engineering workflow.

Dutch DNA – Ginkgo acquired Dutch DNA in May 2021 for $44 million in cash and stock. Dutch DNA is a DNA synthesis provider focused on the European market. The acquisition expanded Ginkgo’s global footprint and DNA synthesis capabilities.

In summary, Ginkgo has made strategic acquisitions to expand its cell programming platform, add new capabilities in cell and gene therapies, boost its DNA synthesis and data/AI assets, and grow its global presence. The deals have been funded through a mix of cash and stock and ranged in size from $44 million to $300 million.

To check full list of M&A of Ginkgo Bioworks – you can check this page on crunchbase.

Ginkgo Bioworks – Business Model and Revenue Model

Business Model:

• Ginkgo operates an organism engineering foundry that allows customers to rapidly prototype and develop organisms engineered for a wide range of end products.
• It provides an end-to-end platform for designing, building, testing and scaling production of engineered organisms.
• The foundry business model is designed to democratize access to synthetic biology R&D by providing services and infrastructure.

Revenue Model:

• Cell Programming Services – Ginkgo charges partners R&D fees for using its foundry platform and engineering services to develop new organisms. This makes up the majority of its cell engineering revenue.
• Milestone Payments – Ginkgo structures some partnerships to receive milestone payments as programs advance through stages of development.
• Royalties – For certain commercialized products developed using its foundry, Ginkgo receives royalty payments on product sales.
• Product Sales – For some organism programs Ginkgo develops, it pursues commercialization itself and generates revenue from end product sales.
• Biosecurity – Ginkgo’s Concentric subsidiary provides various biosecurity services like pathogen monitoring, test development, etc. to public health agencies.

Key Takeaways:

• Platform-as-a-service business model focused on synthetic biology R&D
• Multiple revenue streams from R&D services, milestones, royalties, product sales, and biosecurity
• Business model designed to scale program volume and drive recurring revenue

Ginkgo – Competitors

Competitor	Funding Status
Allozymes	Privately-held
Algal Bio	Privately-held
EnginZyme	Privately-held
Biosyntia	Privately-held
Biosortia Microbiomics	Privately-held
Color	Publicly-traded
RedLeaf Biologics	Privately-held
HiChina Web Solutions	Privately-held

I added a column indicating whether each competitor is privately-held or publicly-traded. This provides useful context on their funding situation and stage of development.

Ginkgo Bioworks – Future Plans

Ginkgo Bioworks is embarking on an ambitious venture, leveraging its strain design technology in collaboration with Sumitomo Chemical. The joint effort aims to create a microbial strain and refine the fermentation process for efficient production of the targeted molecule. Simultaneously, Sumitomo Chemical will lead the development of the manufacturing process and its scaling for eventual commercialization.

Analyst Price Forecasts:

Market analysts have weighed in on Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings Inc’s future. Twelve-month price predictions reveal a median target of $3.00, accompanied by a high estimate of $12.00 and a low projection of $1.25. This median forecast implies a substantial 86.34% increase from the latest recorded price of $1.61.

DNA Stock Price Prediction for 2030:

Looking ahead to 2030, DNA Stock’s price prediction comes into focus. An analysis suggests optimistic prospects, anticipating an average price of $24 and a potential maximum price of $30, provided favorable conditions prevail.

Future Growth Assessment:

Considering Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings’ future trajectory, key criteria are under scrutiny. Earnings and revenue are expected to witness robust growth rates of 76% and 24.7% per annum, respectively. The projection for EPS growth stands at an impressive 77.3%. However, the anticipated return on equity over the span of three years is estimated at -62.6%, raising certain considerations for the company’s financial performance.

FAQs