Wild Bioscience (Wild Bio), the Oxford University spinout that develops improved crop varieties using AI and precision breeding, has raised a £45m Series A investment. The round was led by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), with participation from existing investors Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford.
Wild Bio specialises in crop genetics and has developed a data-driven approach to improve crop productivity, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability. The Wild Bio platform deciphers hundreds of millions of years of plant evolution to identify genetic improvements from wild species, which then guide precision breeding strategies for modern elite crop varieties.
The company was founded in 2021 by Dr Ross Hendron and Professor Steve Kelly, who spun the business out of the University of Oxford to translate their scientific research into commercial applications. Since then, the team has grown to 30 in their Oxford headquarters, with leading crop projects now in field trials across four countries. The new funding will support the expansion of R&D and commercial operations and help turn early field successes into market-ready seed varieties.
Advancing agriculture has limitless potential to help people and the planet. So to achieve meaningful, scalable impact, we need the right investors who are truly aligned with that big vision. I’m deeply grateful to EIT and to our current investors for sharing our excitement about what we’ve accomplished so far, and for their united support as we embark on this ambitious growth journey together.
Ross Hendron, Co-founder & CEO
Combining the groundbreaking research at EIT and Wild will create a powerful synergy that could reshape sustainable agriculture on a global scale. Together, we will accelerate our ability to bring new technologies to market and deliver innovative solutions that enhance crop resilience, boost yields, and promote environmental sustainability.
Steve Kelly, Co-founder & CSO
Wild Bio is using AI to better understand the lessons learned over millions of years of evolution encoded in plant genomes. Those insights combined with precision breeding has enabled Wild Bio to develop new varieties of crops with both higher yields and climate resilience. The ultimate goal is to grow these new crop varieties on a commercial scale and help provide food security around the world. EIT is committed to working with Wild Bio to reach this goal.
Larry Ellison, Founder of EIT, CTO & Chairman of Oracle
We’re thrilled to partner with the Ellison Institute of Technology for the first time as co-investors in Wild Bioscience. Ross Hendron was one of OSE’s early Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and the company is a great example of how our venture-building engine helps Oxford scientists turn breakthrough ideas into world-class businesses. EIT’s investment is a strong endorsement of Wild’s scientific advantage and will accelerate its mission to enhance crop resilience and build a more sustainable food system.
Ed Bussey, CEO of Oxford Science Enterprises
