UniFAHS Secures $1.4M Seed Funding to Expand Reach in Southeast Asia with Phage Technology

203

• UniFAHS has secured over $1.4 million in a seed funding round led by A2D Ventures, with support from Asian Development Bank Ventures and InnoSpace.
• UniFAHS specialises in phage technology, using bacteriophages to control and detect bacterial pathogens. 
• The company’s patented phage solutions offer an alternative to antimicrobial resistance, contributing to a more sustainable environment and enhancing food security.
• The funding will support the company’s expansion across Southeast and South Asia.

Biotech startup, UniFAHS, has secured over $1.4 million in a seed funding round led by A2D Ventures and supported by Asian Development Bank Ventures (ADB Ventures) and InnoSpace (Thailand).

UniFAHS is a biotechnology company which specialises in phage technology for sustainable agriculture and food safety. According to studies, phage technology involves the use of bacteriophage to control and detect bacterial pathogens. UniFAHS, through the use of such technology, uses its patented phage solutions as an alternative solution to antimicrobial resistance, thereby creating a more sustainable environment and improving food security and general well-being.

UniFAHS is co-founded by Dr Kitiya Vongkamjan, a Cornel University alumna and expert in phage research and food safety, and Chalita Wongpukdee, an agribusiness marketing and sales expert. Dr Vongkamjan shares, “Our vision at UniFAHS is to create a sustainable future for food production. This funding is a financial boost and a strong endorsement of our phage technology’s potential to revolutionise the agriculture and food safety sectors.”

(Read also: NewLeaf Symbiotics Closes $45M Series D Funding to Expand Agricultural Microbe Technology)

The company has successfully partnered with leading poultry producers in the region to tackle antimicrobial resistance challenges in agricultural production. This funding will allow UniFAHS to expand its reach across Southeast and South Asia, using its distribution channels to potentially expand its market segments by 20% this year. 

Lead investor, A2D Ventures, is a leading early-stage investing platform in Southeast Asia, which helps democratise venture capital and access opportunities within the region. Speaking on the UniFAHS seed funding, Founder and CEO of A2D Ventures said, “We are thrilled to lead and syndicate this strategic investment opportunity in UniFAHS, recognising the synergies between their groundbreaking technology and the founders’ scientific prowess. This investment underscores our confidence in Thai founders and Thailand-based startups’ potential to redefine and recreate industries, offering solutions that can be exported to global markets and achieve substantial growth quickly.” 

Thitirat Sittakaradej, Investment Specialist at ADB Ventures, shared, “UniFAHS’s innovative solutions represent a transformative opportunity in the agriculture and food sectors, significantly reducing our dependence on antibiotics. We believe UniFAHS has the potential to make a considerable impact on the climate in the region. We are enthusiastic about supporting UniFAHS’s expansion across Asia.”

Cover Photo: PR News Wire