Tech Diligence & Strategy

Take on Next-Gen Biotechnology

Independent technical diligence and strategy for investors and companies at the frontier of biotech.

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"Dr. Kate Krueger and the team at Helikon are simply amazing... Kate and her exceptional multidisciplinary team help me cut through the noise to advance our shared vision for the future."
Lowell Thompson — Serial Entrepreneur / Learn with Lowell
"Helikon takes a holistic approach to alternative meat innovation and provides crucial insights into the state of the science and the industry."
Caroline Kolta — XPRIZE Program Lead
"[Helikon] has turned cellular agriculture from a fringe idea met with skepticism within the scientific community to a scientific pursuit."
Isha Datar — New Harvest Executive Director

Independent analysis

Most entities have a vested interest in the outcome of a strategy project or diligence process. Nonprofits promote a cause, and companies put their best foot forward. This makes sense but doesn't show the whole picture. At Helikon, our only job is to give you the whole picture.

As independent evaluators, we believe science comes first, so we don't take carry or equity for any diligence work. What unites us is a love of technology and a job well done.

Built for data-driven decision making

01

Diligence

Tech due diligence focused on core technologies, competitor analysis, and economic evaluation. Projects range from seven days to two months.

02

ESG Reporting

Targeted ESG reporting across precision fermentation, cell-based meat, alternative proteins, molecular farming, carbon capture, and more.

03

Technology Validation

Deep analytical expertise to evaluate proof of concept technology for deep tech ventures requiring general technology evaluation.

04

Portfolio Management

Ongoing technical evaluation for managing a thriving innovation portfolio, including benchmarking and success metrics.

05

Workshops & Seminars

Seminars, workshops, fireside chats, and roundtables that bring bleeding-edge tech discussions to the right context.

06

Scientific Expertise

Deep expertise from CRISPR to metabolic engineering to protein synthesis — and cutting-edge research in proteomics, transcriptomics, and computational modeling.

"[Helikon] is extremely knowledgeable in all things related to synthetic biology, and terrific at providing technical expertise and communicating hardcore scientific topics."— Nieves Martinez Marshall, Ph.D., Novel Farms Founder and CEO

Ask the tough questions and get answers.

We bring scientists from across disciplines to work together on some of the most challenging advisory and diligence work at the frontiers of biotech.

Our team brings deep scientific expertise across the entire range of synthetic biology. Our experience crosses from cutting-edge research in proteomics and transcriptomics, to advanced machine learning and computational modeling, to real-world applications like liposome encapsulation, protein production and expression, biophysical assays, and microfluidics.

We have evaluated over 41 companies in the past three years from seed to scale.


Our Team

41+

Companies evaluated

3

Years of deep tech diligence

14

Expert team members

Our Team

Get to know us

Kate Krueger

Managing Partner

Chris Anderson

Tissue Engineer, Yale

Yekaterina Tarasova

Microbiology, MIT

Katie Kloska

Chemist, Chicago

Wei Ng

Microbiologist, Yale

Mark Lalli

Bioprocess Expert

Yocelyn Recinos

Molecular Biologist, Columbia

Diana Garibay

Bioengineer, MIT

Josephine Blossfeld

Graphic Designer

Meghan Roe

Chief of Staff

Ivy Fernandez

Biologist, UC San Diego

Tristan Lawson

Biomedical Engineer, Cornell

Amy Ontai

Microbiologist, Yale

Luke Batty

Biochemist, Yale

Insights

All articles

We evaluate cutting edge biotechnology

Join our monthly newsletter for the latest in frontier tech.

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Cell-Based Meat

Chris Anderson

Tissue Engineer, Yale University

Luke Batty

Biochemist, Yale

Mark Lalli

Bioprocess Expert, Kendall Square

Tristan Lawson

Biomedical Engineer, Kendall Square

Bioprocess

Mark Lalli

Bioprocess Expert, Kendall Square

Tristan Lawson

Biomedical Engineer, Kendall Square

Diana Garibay

Bioengineer, MIT

Climate Biotechnology

Katie Kloska

Chemist, Chicago

Yocelyn Recinos

Molecular Biologist, Columbia

Yekaterina Tarasova

Microbiologist, MIT

Ivy Fernandez

Biologist, UC San Diego

Fermentation & Molecular Farming

Wei Ng

Microbiologist, Yale University

Amy Ontai

Microbiologist, Yale University

Yekaterina Tarasova

Microbiologist, MIT

Mission Control

Kate Krueger

Managing Partner

Josephine Blossfeld

Design

Meghan Roe

Executive Administrator

Advisors

Bruce Friedrich

President and Founder of Good Food Institute

Ryan Bethencourt

Co-Founder of IndieBio

Paul Shapiro

Author of Clean Meat

Helikon is frequently quoted by press outlets from CNN to Nature and the New Yorker. Read to learn more about frontier technologies and our perspectives on new developments.

VOX

The first lab-grown seafood will be fancy

Kenny Torrella · Dec 14, 2022

CNN Business

How lab-grown sushi could help tackle overfishing

Rebecca Cairns · Apr 8, 2022

Nature

Will Cell-Based Meat Ever Be A Dinner Staple?

Elie Dolgin · Dec 9, 2020

The New Yorker

Can a Burger Help Solve Climate Change?

Tad Friend · Sep 23, 2019

Protein Report

Chitin: Providing Structure and Biofunction to Cell Cultured Meat

Catherine Lammert · Jun 23, 2022

The Boston Globe

Company is making "milk without the moo"

Ann Parson · Jan 1, 2020

Frontiers

A Novel Approach to Seafood Production and an Opportunity for Cellular Agriculture

Rubio, Datar, Stachura, Kaplan, Krueger · Jun 11, 2019

Discovery

How Do They Make Meat-Like Burgers From Plants?

Jenny Splitter · Aug 1, 2019

Popular Mechanics

Lab-Grown Chicken Nuggets Are Your Future

Jenny Splitter · Dec 20, 2019

Nature News In Focus

Lab-grown meat gets rare funding boost

Elie Dolgin · Feb 14, 2019

State of the Industry

Bio-based Textiles, State of the Industry 2023

Bio-based textiles made from bacteria, fungi, and plants rather than their typical animal source.

State of the Industry

Green Chemicals, State of the Industry 2023

A design methodology to create chemical compounds with minimal negative environmental impacts.

State of the Industry

Egg Alternatives, 2023 State of the Industry

Chicken eggs remain a popular food and an inexpensive source of several key nutrients.

State of the Industry

Milk Alternatives, 2023 State of the Industry

Biotechnology embraces precision fermentation and cell culture to better recapitulate animal-derived milk.

State of the Industry

Cheese Alternatives, 2023 State of the Industry

New technologies enabling a diverse range of plant-based and precision-fermentation-produced cheeses.

Technical Analysis

Sensitivity and Scenario Analysis

Used to assess and predict the outcomes of any project that can be modeled quantitatively.

Regulatory

Regulation of new food ingredients: Is it GRAS?

Any new food ingredient is subject to premarket FDA approval unless generally recognized as safe.

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology to solve sensitive diet restrictions

The rapidly expanding engineered food market is gaining buzz with investors and future consumers.

Synthetic Biology

Metabolic Engineering: Cannabinoids

States move forward lifting restrictions as synthetic biology transforms cannabis production.

Regulatory · Cell-based Meat

Meat Without Animals: Exploring Public Policy Around Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells

Commentary on the CFA's latest panel on cultured meat policy.

Synthetic Biology

A Brand New Beer: The Implications of GMO Yeast

Beer is America's favorite alcohol — and synthetic biology is transforming how it's made.

Alternative Food & Protein

Plant Based and Mediterranean Diets Strengthen Microbiome: A Stanford Study

New evidence on how our gut microbiome is shaped by diet and its impact on heart health.

Videos

Watch and learn more about our science and perspectives on the future of food and biotech.

▶ Watch

XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion

▶ Watch

XPRIZE Voicenote

▶ Watch

AAAS Sci-line

▶ Watch

New Harvest

▶ Watch

Cultured Meat and Future Food

▶ Watch

AAAS Sci-line (2)

Get to know our team →

Reach out to discuss operational and technical diligence. We'd love to hear about what you're working on.

Phone

(203) 909-2023

Get in Touch