Meet baCta, one of the winners of the SYNBEE Pitch Competition

In the heart of Brussels, during the EIC x SYNBEE Day, a new wave of innovation took center stage, spotlighting new ideas in synthetic biology.

Among the 10 pitch competition finalists, was baCta, a startup company led by founder and CEO Mathieu Nohet. As one of the winners of the SYNBEE Pitch Competition, baCta captured the jury’s attention with its pioneering approach to creating carbon-negative natural rubber, using engineered microorganisms and renewable feedstocks.

The SYNBEE Pitch Competition, part of a broader initiative to promote synthetic biology solutions aimed at environmental challenges, brought together some of the brightest minds in the field. The competition focused on three key areas: the green economy, the blue economy, and sustainability. It was designed not only to highlight innovative projects but also to put them into the spotlight, connecting them with industry leaders, investors, and mentors to accelerate their development.

baCta’s approach to sustainability is both innovative and timely. With the growing global concern over climate change and the urgent need to reduce carbon footprints, baCta’s solution offers a beacon of hope. 

In our recent video interview with Mathieu Nohet, we delved into the origins of baCta and the journey to becoming a SYNBEE Pitch Competition winner.

The SYNBEE Pitch Competition provided baCta with a platform to showcase this innovative technology to a broader audience. The competition’s rigorous selection process, which included evaluating projects on their potential to revolutionize sustainability, the green economy, and the blue economy, was no small feat. 

As part of their victory, baCta, along with other winners, received an ERS Genomics CRISPR Cas9 license for three years, an invaluable asset in the field of synthetic biology. Additionally, they were awarded a trip to SynBioBeta, an international synthetic biology conference that will provide further networking opportunities and exposure to industry leaders. Last but not least, baCta will receive coaching and mentoring from the Da Vinci Labs team, which will help in refining their business model and scaling their operations.

In conclusion, we can look forward to a future where sustainable materials like their carbon-negative natural rubber become the new norm.

See full video here.

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SYNBEE Project coordination contact point:
Alexandra Chukas, European Grant Coordinator Da Vinci Labs (alexandra.chukas@davincilabs.eu)
 
SYNBEE PR contact point:
Andréia Santos, EU Project Manager at F6S
(andreia@f6s.com)
Sara Canedo, Communications Manager at F6S
(sarafc@f6s.com)

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement No 101100509. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authorities can be held responsible for them