Rathcoole-based biotech startup Antler Bio, which uses gene expression analysis to enhance dairy herd performance, has secured $4.3 million in a seed funding round.
- Established in 2020 by Maria Jensen and Nathalie Conte, Antler Bio develops precision livestock tools to improve dairy herd health and productivity.
- The firm’s core product, EpiHerd, uses gene expression analysis to detect how cows respond to environmental conditions, identifying stress, nutritional imbalances, and other factors that can impact milk yield and animal wellbeing.
- The system converts complex biological data into practical recommendations, allowing farmers to make informed decisions that enhance milk quality, fertility, and overall herd health. Currently, EpiHerd is deployed on over 100 farms throughout Europe.
Details of the deal
- The First Thirty Ventures led the recent $4.3 million funding round for Antler Bio, with participation from Endgame Capital and the regenerative agriculture angel syndicate Generation-RE.
"What became increasingly clear about Antler was that they had an opportunity to make a real impact not only in animal welfare and the lives of farmers, but also to contribute towards a better understanding of epigenetic factors in human health over the long term. And that is really exciting from both an impact and venture perspective," explains Naeem Lakhani, Managing Partner at The First Thirty Ventures.
- This latest investment increases the company’s total funding, including grants, to $8.5 million.
- Antler Bio will use the fresh $4.3 million funding to scale its EpiHerd system to thousands of farms across Europe, expand its team, and continue refining the technology to better meet farmers’ needs, ultimately improving farm profitability and animal wellbeing.
