Spore.Bio's technology is still in the early stages and the company is working on obtaining certification for its testing product, which could take 12 to 18 months. The startup is also navigating food production regulations in Europe. Despite the challenges, Spore.Bio's solution could disrupt the current method of testing for bacteria, which involves sending samples to offsite labs and waiting up to 20 days for results. The company claims its device will eventually work almost in real time, reducing downtime and associated costs in the food processing industry.
Key takeaways:
- French startup Spore.Bio has raised €8 million in pre-seed funding for its new pathogen detection methodology, which uses deep-learning algorithms to compare data sets and detect when a surface is not clean.
- The company is developing a handheld device that can detect pathogens immediately, directly on the factory floor, providing almost real-time insights into any potential bacteria in the factory.
- Spore.Bio's solution could significantly reduce downtime in the food and beverage processing industry, which currently costs an estimated $50 billion annually.
- The startup is hoping to deploy its first prototypes globally by next year to clients’ sites, and is already working with certifying bodies to get necessary certifications.