# Glowing Plant

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/glowing-plant

- Industry: Biopolymers
- Headquarters: San Francisco, US
- Website: www.glowingplant.com
- Total disclosed funding: $0.1M
- Latest round: Seed (Aug 20, 2014)
- Investors on record: 1

## About

Glowing Plant is a pioneering company focused on developing bioluminescent plants using synthetic biology techniques, offering innovative and sustainable lighting solutions for environmentally conscious consumers and educators.Founded in 2012 in San Francisco, US, Glowing Plant specializes in creating genetically modified Arabidopsis plants that emit light. The company successfully launched its Kickstarter campaign in April 2013, attracting attention and funding to develop its products. In August 2014, Glowing Plant raised USD 0.12 mn in Seed funding from Y Combinator, bringing the total amount raised to USD 0.12 mn. The company has completed 2 deals to date.Glowing Plants specializes in pioneering the development of bioluminescent plants through the application of synthetic biology techniques. Their primary product offering is the Glowing Plant, an Arabidopsis plant genetically modified to emit light, thus providing a natural lighting source without electricity. This innovative solution targets a broad range of end users, including environmentally conscious consumers interested in sustainable lighting alternatives and educators in the fields of biology and environmental science. Geographically, Glowing Plants primarily serves the United States market, with plans to expand internationally, though current restrictions limit their ability to send seeds to certain regions, such as the European Union.Glowing Plants generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of its bioluminescent plant products, primarily targeting individual consumers and educational institutions. Their revenue model includes tiered pricing for various offerings, such as glowing plant seeds and associated instructional kits, which are marketed at different price points to cater to diverse customer needs. Customers can back the project for rewards that may include seeds for home cultivation or educational materials related to synthetic biology. The company emphasizes a crowdfunding approach, enabling it to secure initial funding while simultaneously building a customer base of environmentally conscious individuals and bioenthusiasts. The revenue structure also includes potential sales of open-source DNA parts and educational resources, further diversifying their income streams as they develop and market new product offerings.With the USD 0.12 mn raised in Seed funding from Y Combinator in August 2014, Glowing Plant plans to enhance its R&D efforts for upcoming bioluminescent plant varieties and expand its market presence. The company aims to launch new product designs in the coming years, focusing on educational kits and a broader range of bioluminescent plant options, while actively pursuing opportunities to enter international markets. As part of its growth strategy, Glowing Plant will leverage recent funding to navigate existing regulatory challenges and expand its operations into new geographic regions.

## Funding rounds

- Seed, Aug 20, 2014, $0.1M — Y Combinator

## Investors

- Y Combinator (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/y-combinator) — Seed