Using innovative processes found in nature to brew sustainable alternatives to palm oil

Shara Ticku

Founder & CEO at C16 Biosciences

More about Shara »
Employees 21–50
Headquarters New York, New York, United States
C16 Biosciences is an award-winning, climate-tech startup using innovative processes found in nature to brew sustainable alternatives to fats and oils. The company's first product offering, Palmless™, is the platform for sustainable palm oil alternatives. C16’s proprietary technology platform uses biomanufacturing to create next-generation ingredients and materials that successfully address global ESG challenges—including climate change, food security, the environmental and safety impacts of natural resource extraction, and more.

Notable Achievements

  • Raised $24 million to date, including funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates) and US DOE.
  • Gross margin positive in first market (beauty / personal care), approaching cost-competitive
  • First product sold out in 2 hours and received >1 billion media impressions

Currently Operating in Two Regions

Press Mentions

July 3, 2024

A Biotech Solution to Palm Oil Deforestation

Read on Harvard Business School »

March 19, 2024

Palm oil is both ubiquitous and problematic. This biotech company has finally devised an alternative

Read on Fast Company »

February 13, 2024

Greasy—and good for the planet

Read on gatesnotes.com »

January 31, 2024

The AlleyWatch Startup Daily Funding Report: 1/30/2024 – AlleyWatch

Read on AlleyWatch »

January 24, 2024

Palm oil alternative maker C16 Biosciences nets $4.5M to expand into food

Read on Axios »

September 4, 2023

Lab-grown palm oil could offer environmentally-friendly alternative

Read on CBS News »

Work at C16 Biosciences

Posted April 21, 2024

VP of Business Development & Sales

New York, NY, USA

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Posted August 3, 2020

General Inquiry

New York, NY, USA

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