Skip to content
dtc-main-logo_reversed

Accelerating Growth from

discovery

to

startup

The Danforth Technology Company (DTC) is a subsidiary of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center that facilitates early-stage development of startup companies based on technologies developed by Danforth Center scientists.

 

dtc-danforthcenterbuilding

Connecting Research and Discovery to Commercial Impact

Linking Danforth Center scientists with entrepreneurs, investors, companies, and technology leaders to enable partnerships

Providing intellectual property development, licensing, and entrepreneurship

Launching startups with seed funding and early management

Working with early investors to mitigate technology and investment risk

Why DTC?

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is committed to establishing 39 North as the #1 landing place for agtech startups, existing companies, and entrepreneurs. DTC serves to facilitate startup creation and investment in promising technologies developed by Danforth Center scientists, and more rapidly move our scientific discoveries into the marketplace.

The Partnership with the
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

DTC draws from the brightest talent and some of the most innovative plant science research laboratories in the world. At the Danforth Plant Science Center, 31 scientific teams are working in state-of-the-art facilities to create solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today.

31

scientific teams with

199

funded projects

$40 million

annual operating budget

6

core facilites

9

startup companies
launched by faculty

DTC Leadership

dtc-leadership-tom-laurita

Tom Laurita

CEO
dtc-leadership-hal-davies

Hal Davies

CFO
dtc-leadership-john-ahn

John Ahn

Business Development Lead

Success Stories

Companies recently founded by Danforth Center Scientists.

Benson Hill

Benson Hill moves food forward with Cloud Biology® and the CropOS™ platform, a leading food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock nature’s genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating healthier, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found on Twitter at @bensonhillinc.

View Website

RNAISSANCE AG LLC

RNAissance Ag LLC was formed in January 2019 by TechAccel to develop and manufacture RNAi solutions in agriculture and animal health. The company holds the exclusive license to proprietary RNAi technology developed at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center that has promise to be effective for insect pests that previously were considered resistant to RNAi.

View Website

Peptyde Bio

Peptyde Bio discovers, designs, and characterizes novel anti-microbial peptides (AMPs). These peptides can complement or replace chemical fungicides because they are effective, environmentally friendly, and have lower cost of development compared to traditional fungicides. With a strong pipeline developed through robust design capabilities, Peptyde Bio enables its partners to more quickly and cost effectively commercialize AMP-based biofungicides.

View Website

Stay Updated