This French DNA data startup wants to store all of humanity’s data in something as small as a data center rack
- Biomemory’s DNA-based solutions address data storage issues
- DNA storage is compact, durable and environmentally friendly
- $18 million in funding supports product development and industry partnerships
Biomemory, a French startup founded in 2021, has long been working on developing DNA-based data storage technology.
It was the first company to make a DNA storage device available to the general public, marking an early step in the commercialization of this technology. Biomemory’s approach involves encoding digital data within synthesized DNA strands by translating the DNA bases – A, C, G and T – into binary code. Data can then be retrieved by sequencing the DNA and converting it back into binary.
DNA storage is seen as a potential solution to the growing global storage demand driven by increasing data generation. It is estimated that humanity will produce 175 zettabytes of data by 2025, a figure that challenges the capacity and sustainability of existing storage methods. The compact and sustainable nature of DNA offers an alternative that can reduce the spatial and ecological footprint while providing long-term stability.
Financing secured
A number of startups have entered the DNA storage space in recent years, including Catalog, Ansa Biotechnologies and Iridia in the United States, as well as Helixworks, DNA Script and BioSistemika in Europe. Biomemory focuses on creating end-to-end solutions for data centers, using bio-sourced DNA fragments that are designed to last thousands of years without requiring energy for maintenance.
To continue its efforts, Biomemory recently secured $18 million in Series A funding.
“This investment marks a pivotal moment for Biomemory and the future of data storage,” said Erfane Arwani, CEO and co-founder of the startup. “With our DNA storage technology, we are not only addressing today’s data challenges, but building solutions that will sustain the ecosystem for the next century and beyond. By sharing this value with our partners and collaborators, we aim to collectively advance the industry and foster a thriving data storage ecosystem.”
Biomemory plans to use the funds to develop its first-generation data storage device, optimize biotech processes and accelerate commercialization. Additional objectives include establishing partnerships with industry players and cloud providers and recruiting experts in molecular biology and engineering.
The technology offers the potential to store all of humanity’s data in a single data center rack and Biomemory plans to scale its molecular storage solutions to exabyte capacity by 2030, citing longevity and sustainability as key priorities.