Oxford, United Kingdom
October 16, 2025
Wild Bio Founders Dr Ross Hendron (left) and Professor Steve Kelly (right) at the company’s Oxford headquarters. Photography by Alexander Bedwell.
Wild Bioscience (Wild Bio), the Oxford University spinout that develops improved crop varieties using AI and precision breeding, has raised a $60m Series A investment. This significant funding 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 specializes in crop genetics, and has developed a unique 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 promising genetic improvements from wild species. These evolutionary innovations are then used to guide precision breeding strategies for modern elite crop varieties.
The company started life in the University of Oxford with Founders Dr Ross Hendron and Prof. Steve Kelly, who spun-out the business in 2021 to translate their scientific research out of the lab and onto the farm. Since then, the team has grown to 30 in their Oxford-based headquarters and their leading crop projects are in field trialling programs spanning four countries. With this fresh funding the Wild Bio team are getting ready to expand their R&D and commercial operations, and to turn their early field successes into market-ready seed varieties.
Dr Ross Hendron, Co-Founder and CEO of Wild Bio, says:
“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.”
Professor Steve Kelly, Head of the Plant Biology Institute at EIT and Co-Founder and CSO of Wild Bio, says:
“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.”
Larry Ellison, Founder of EIT, CTO and Chairman of Oracle, says:
"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."
This investment is also a significant milestone for the wider Oxford innovation ecosystem, as it sees EIT and OSE making a venture investment together for the first time.
Ed Bussey, CEO of OSE says:
“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.”
About Wild Bio
Wild Bioscience (Wild Bio) is an Oxford University spin-out that translates evolutionary biology into resilient crops. By integrating plant evolution, machine learning, and precision gene editing, Wild Bioscience aims to deliver high-yielding, climate-smart crops that support food security and planetary health.
About Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT)
Led by a world-class faculty of scientists, technologists, policy makers, economists and entrepreneurs, the Ellison Institute of Technology aims to develop and deploy commercially sustainable solutions to solve some of humanity’s most enduring challenges.
By breaking down the silos between science, research, industry and policy, we are reimagining the path from scientific discovery to applied solutions for the benefit of society.
We aim to develop end-to-end solutions to some of society’s enduring challenges, from scientific breakthrough to commercial products at global scale. Our work is guided by four Humane Endeavours: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture; climate change and managing atmospheric CO2; and Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.
Our new world-class research and development facility bridges the Oxford Science Park and Littlemore. Set for completion in 2027, the new EIT Campus will have research laboratories, an oncology and preventative care clinic, plus educational and meeting spaces. Together, they create the perfect environment for EIT experts to take ground-breaking ideas from research to broad implementation. The new facility will support EIT’s partnership with the University of Oxford and become the new home for Ellison Scholars.
About Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE)
Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) is an independent investment company and venture builder, powered by a unique partnership with the University of Oxford. OSE transforms Oxford’s cutting-edge scientific research into companies to solve the world’s greatest challenges and deliver strong returns for investors.
Its proven venture-building engine systematically creates 8–10 new companies each year – a number set to double by 2030. In its first decade, OSE has created more than 50 flagship companies and partnered with over 300 co-investors, together investing more than £3 billion. Based in the heart of Oxford, OSE’s mission is clear: to turn world-class science into transformational companies with global impact and billion-pound potential.
Topics
Species
