How Can We Design Better Molecules? (with Mitchell Duffy @ Cambrium)

This is CC Pod - the Climate Capital Podcast. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to our Substack. If you’d like to manage your Climate Capital Substack subscription, click here. Disclaimer: For full disclosure, Cambrium is a portfolio company at Climate Capital, where Michael works as a General Partner.CC Pod is not investment advice and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any investment decision.Don’t miss an episode from Climate Capital!Join host Michael Luciani in our latest podcast episode featuring Mitchell Duffy, Co-Founder and CEO at Cambrium. Discover how they're leveraging molecular design technology to engineer proteins and revolutionize material creation.Cambrium has a simple yet profound goal: to make materials that matter. Recognizing that materials contribute to 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions and cause innumerable environmental issues, Duffy and his team are committed to creating sustainable solutions. Their approach involves designing proteins, or as Duffy explains, downloading programs into cells, such as yeast, to change the way biology executes these programs.The process begins by identifying a customer's needs and the current industry standards they wish to improve upon. Cambrium initially focused on the cosmetics industry due to the industry's openness to innovation and sustainability.The team then designs a protein that meets the specified needs using computational tools. This designed protein is then produced in yeast, akin to brewing beer. The yeast acts as a factory, manufacturing the proteins that can then be used to create materials with the desired properties.This innovative approach allows for the creation of materials in a way that is not just sustainable but also highly customizable. It provides a potential solution to the current limitations of hydrocarbon feedstocks used by the majority of the materials industry. Traditional hydrocarbon feedstocks limit the variety of chemicals that can be produced, stifling innovation. Cambrium's method, on the other hand, taps into nature's vast array of possibilities, offering a much broader spectrum of potential materials.This technology could revolutionize not just the materials industry but also industries that rely on animal by-products. As Duffy explained, by targeting materials made from animal by-products, such as collagen or leather, Cambrium could disrupt these industries and contribute to a more sustainable future.Looking ahead, Duffy envisions a world where Cambrium’s technology enables biomaterials to deliver on their promise. His goal is to create a specialty chemicals company that consumers can trust for both performance and sustainability. This commitment to both sustainability and product quality sets Cambrium apart in the materials industry.Cambrium is leveraging the power of synthetic biology to revolutionize the materials industry. By designing proteins to create sustainable and high-performing materials, they are addressing the environmental toll of materials production and paving the way for a more sustainable future.Visit cambium.bio to learn more! Get full access to Climate Capital at climatecap.substack.com/subscribe