Suzhou Qihe Biotechnology

Suzhou Qihe Biotechnology, operating as Qi Biodesign, is a biotechnology firm established in 2021 with a sharp focus on agricultural innovation through next-generation genome editing. The company was co-founded by a team of distinguished scientists and industry experts, including Dr. Caixia Gao and Dr. Kevin Zhao, who are recognized for their work in gene editing. Their scientific background is the bedrock of the company's technological pursuits, aiming to address global food security and sustainability challenges. Dr. Zhao serves as the Chief Technology Officer, joined by Dr. Bei Zhang as Chief Executive Officer and Haiquan Yang as Chief Business Officer, forming a leadership team with deep roots in both the science and commercialization of biotechnology.

The core of Qi Biodesign's operations is its proprietary SEEDIT™ research platform. This technology suite enables a range of sophisticated genetic modifications, including precise gene knockout, base editing, and the insertion of large DNA fragments in plants. The company provides these advanced genome solutions to industrial users, targeting the biological breeding sector. Its business model centers on leveraging the SEEDIT™ platform to develop and commercialize plant traits that enhance crop value. This is achieved by creating germplasm resources with improved characteristics such as higher yield, herbicide tolerance, and enhanced nutritional profiles. Qi Biodesign has developed efficient delivery systems for over 40 crops, including major staples like rice, wheat, soybean, and maize.

Since its inception, the company has secured significant financial backing to fuel its research and development pipeline. It has raised a total of $75 million through Seed, Pre-A, and Series A funding rounds from a consortium of investors including Apricot Capital, Source Code Capital, Gaorong Ventures, and CD Capital. These funds are earmarked for enhancing the SEEDIT™ platform and accelerating the path from research to market. The company has already marked significant regulatory achievements, receiving two biosafety certificates for gene-edited plants (high oleic acid soybean and powdery mildew-resistant wheat) from China's Ministry of Agriculture and an exemption for its high oleic acid soybean from the US Department of Agriculture.

Keywords: gene editing, agricultural biotechnology, CRISPR-Cas9, crop breeding, SEEDIT platform, Caixia Gao, Kevin Zhao, plant breeding solutions, biological breeding, sustainable agriculture, genome editing technology, high oleic acid soybean, disease-resistant wheat, herbicide tolerance, crop enhancement, agricultural innovation, molecular science, genetics, bioinformatics, germplasm resources