Key Takeaways
- Number 8 Bio has raised USD 7.3 million (equivalent to AUD 11 million) in a Series A round led by Icehouse Ventures, with participation from Main Sequence and Japanese climate VC One Innovators.
- The Sydney-based startup develops a cost-effective organic small molecule to reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation in cattle.
- Funding will support large-scale animal trials, regulatory approvals in New Zealand, Europe, and the U.S., and commercial readiness for a feed additive and six-month slow-release capsule by 2026.
- Number 8 Bio also plans to launch a carbon-insetting program enabling farmers and supply chains to claim verified emission reductions.
- Investors highlight the company's strong team, strong economics, and scalable climate impact.
Number 8 Bio Secures USD 7.3 Million in Series A Funding to Reduce Livestock Methane Emissions
Sydney-based startup Number 8 Bio has raised USD 7.3 million (AUD 11 million) in a Series A round aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of its methane-reducing technologies for livestock. The round was led by New Zealand venture fund Icehouse Ventures, with continued support from existing investor Main Sequence and new participation from One Innovators, a Japanese climate-focused VC.
Founded in 2022 by Dr Tom Williams and Dr Alex Carpenter, the company emerged from the UNSW SynBio 10X Accelerator program, where it received the Positive Impact Award for its early innovations in agricultural methane mitigation.
Number 8 Bio Targets Enteric Fermentation, a Major Source of Agricultural Methane
Enteric fermentation—methane released through livestock burping—accounts for roughly 70% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in New South Wales and an estimated 10% of Australia’s total reportable emissions. Number 8 Bio is developing a cost-effective organic small molecule that can be manufactured domestically and incorporated into livestock feed.
