BRDG Park Welcomes New Tenant Led By Danforth Center Scientists

Founded in 2012, Benson Hill Biosystems, an agricultural biotechnology company dedicated to delivering substantial production gains to the agriculture sector by advancing biotech-based traits designed to increase intrinsic yield became a BRDG Park tenant on Feb 1, 2013. The company led by Matthew B. Crisp, President & CEO, Thomas P. Brutnell, Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the Enterprise Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Danforth Center, and Todd C. Mockler, Chief Technology Officer and the Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil Distinguished Investigator at the Danforth Center has raised $300,000 in initial seed funding and is looking forward to growing and expanding in St. Louis.

“St. Louis benefits our company beyond just funding.  The science community and the relationship between the Danforth Center and BRDG Park are key ingredients to our success,” said Matt Crisp. “BRDG Park and Danforth Center’s technologies and infrastructure open opportunities for us to invest our capital in running numerous experiments to rapidly grow our business.”

The region provides a strong concentration of brilliant talent Benson Hill is working to tap into. Crisp stated, “Currently, we are in the process of recruiting our head of research and development and we are gearing up to build a computational and systems biology team in St. Louis that will significantly expand and enhance our research capabilities. This is an exciting time for us to build our company in St. Louis.”

Investors are beginning to take notice.  Benson Hill was invited by InvestMidwest to be showcased at a venture capital conference in Kansas City, MO on April 3-4 along with 43 other companies from throughout the Midwest focused on the life sciences, technology and food, ag, and bioenergy. Benson Hill will present its approach to trait discovery and development and announce its plans to seek a Series A funding to an audience of more than 300 investors and top venture capital firms.

“Benson Hill is looking to impact yields and their presence at BRDG Park will positively impact the St. Louis as a member of the life science and biotechnology ecosystem here,” said Sam Fiorello, Chief Operating Officer of Danforth Center and President of BRDG Park. “The St. Louis’ venture capital environment has assisted Benson Hill to take off and continues to spark growth for new companies in biotech.”

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