Rheaplant
About Rheaplant
Rheaplant is a AgTech startup based in Oakland, CA, United Statessince 2025. The company reached Seed stage in May 2026 with a null round led by institutional investors. Rheaplant's investor base includes 2 institutional funds, with its lead investor leading the most recent equity round.
Rheaplant is an Oakland-based plant cell culture biotech startup developing a next-generation bio-manufacturing platform for producing high-value botanical bioactives in modular bioreactors. Founded in January 2025 by Sowmya Purushothaman (CEO, ex-Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Climax Foods) and Derek Scholin (CTO, 20+ years in plant cell culture, ex-Diana Plant Sciences and California Cultured), the company's purpose-built bioreactor systems are engineered specifically for plant cell physiology, reducing production costs by up to 90% compared to industry standards. Rheaplant currently has 13 plant cell lines in active culture — including ashwagandha, rhodiola, American ginseng, plus natural colorants and sweeteners — and targets scaling to 50,000-litre commercial bioreactor capacity within six years to supply biopharma, food, and nutraceutical industries with sustainable, traceable botanical compounds.
Rheaplant Funding Rounds Timeline
1 rounds · since 2025
| Round | Date | Amount | Valuation | Lead investor | Co-investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | May 2026 | Undisclosed | — | — | 2045 Ventures, Big Idea Ventures |
Investors in Rheaplant
2 institutional investors across 1 rounds
Co-investors
Recent news about Rheaplant
Questions about Rheaplant
How much has Rheaplant raised?
Rheaplant has raised null across 1 funding round since 2025.
Who are the investors of Rheaplant?
Rheaplant's investors include 2045 Ventures, Big Idea Ventures.
When was Rheaplant's last funding round?
Rheaplant's most recent round was a null Seed in May 2026.
Where is Rheaplant headquartered?
Rheaplant is headquartered in Oakland, CA, United States, and was founded in 2025 by Sowmya Purushothaman, Derek Scholin.