Puna Bio, an agricultural biologicals startup from Argentina, has secured additional funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand its reach into sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging markets. This strategic investment marks the Foundation’s first direct backing of a startup based in Argentina.
The funding comes as part of Puna Bio’s Series A round, which was first announced in April 2025 and led by Corteva Catalyst, with participation from At One Ventures. While the financial details of the Gates Foundation’s contribution remain undisclosed, the investment represents a major boost to the startup’s mission of deploying climate-resilient agricultural solutions globally.
Founded by Franco Martínez Levis and his team, Puna Bio develops ag biologicals derived from extremophiles—microorganisms capable of thriving in extreme environments such as salt flats, deserts, and high-altitude regions. These biologicals are applied as seed coatings to help crops withstand environmental stresses like heatwaves and droughts, conditions that are increasingly common due to global climate change.
Levis says the Gates Foundation’s investment will support the company’s efforts to “provide solutions that can make agriculture in these regions more productive, sustainable, and resilient to the effects of climate change.”
Supporting smallholder farmers across Africa
A key objective of the collaboration is to bring Puna Bio’s technology to sub-Saharan Africa, with plans to develop new biologicals tailored to the nutritional needs of region-specific crops. These products are designed to improve soil fertility and plant health without relying on synthetic chemical inputs.
“We are deeply aligned with the Gates Foundation’s priority of ensuring food security at a global scale,” Levis said. “Their knowledge and network will help us design tools needed by smallholder farmers in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and deploy these solutions at scale in a cost-effective way.”
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The push into Africa builds on the company’s rising momentum in Latin America, where countries like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay are increasingly adopting agricultural biologicals. Levis has previously described the region as a hotbed for innovation due to its mix of technical expertise and growing demand for sustainable farming practices.
The Series A funding round is expected to accelerate both international expansion and product development for Puna Bio, helping it deliver long-term value to farmers facing climate-related challenges.
