Sometimes, a simple change of perspective can turn a problem into an opportunity. And sometimes, these opportunities can turn into highly successful businesses that are actively changing the world.
That’s what happened with Deep Branch — a biotech company founded by Pete Rowe, Rob Mansfield, and Bart Pander.
Since its start in 2018, the company has not only accumulated an impressive list of grants and two spots on Forbes’ prestigious 30 under 30 list but has also taken huge steps towards a more sustainable food system.
But how did Deep Branch get here? And what exactly do they do? We talked to Pete Rowe to get the full story.
What does Deep Branch do?
In the simplest of terms, the mission of Deep Branch is “to make a more sustainable food system” by creating an environmentally friendly source of protein, Pete tells us.
The science behind Deep Branch’s technology involves a fermentation process using carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases.
“It’s almost as if you’re making wine,” Pete smiles. Where the wine-making process uses microbes to convert sugar into alcohol, Deep Branch uses microbes to convert CO2 and hydrogen into protein.
This protein is then utilised in animal feed, replacing conventional ingredients like soybean meal and fish meal. The result? Animal products with a significantly lower carbon footprint — thanks to reduced water and land usage.
How did Deep Branch get started?
“I’m a biotechnologist by training”, Pete tells us: “I did a PhD in the field of gas fermentation, so I analysed the ability to use gases in a bioprocess.”
“People have been studying this for decades as a way to sustainably produce chemicals — and one of the problems in the field is that the microbes like to use a lot of the carbon and energy you put in to make biomass instead of the target product.”
After finishing his PhD and moving to the Netherlands, the wheels of Pete’s entrepreneurial brain started turning.
He began asking himself: “Is this ‘protein problem’ really a problem, or is it an opportunity? The biomass made by some gas fermenting microbes is incredibly rich in protein, so instead of the protein being an unwanted byproduct, could it be the primary product?”
“It wasn’t easy, but we figured it out,” Pete says — and so, Deep Branch was born.
What role did PLNT play in Deep Branch’s StartUp Story?
Although Pete lived in Leiden when Deep Branch was founded, the rest of his team, along with its original base, were in the UK.
“I kind of founded the company remotely, but I needed an office to do my work here in Leiden,” Pete explains. “I spoke to the guys at PLNT and asked if they had a desk for me,” he recalls with a smile — and, of course, PLNT welcomed him with open arms.
“I spent a good couple of years as part of the ecosystem here. It’s an inspiring place.” Far away from the rest of his team, Pete especially liked the social aspect of PLNT: “The borrels were definitely one of my favourite parts,” he laughs.
How does Deep Branch help the world?
Deep Branch’s website states that the company’s goal is “to make a positive impact on the world” — so how do they do it? We asked Pete.
“There are a few big trends that everyone’s aware of in the next few years,” he says, “climate change certainly is a big one.” Add to that the increase in the global population, and there could be some big societal issues in the not-so-far future — one of them being food security.
“Within a 10 to 15-year timeframe, there will be issues in trying to source macro ingredients that we need for food and animal feed,” Peter explains. “That’s a bit scary for me”.
“Our technology means all you need to make protein is CO2 and renewable energy. That’s hopefully going to be an important way for countries to alleviate themselves from that issue.”
What’s in store for Deep Branch’s future?
Since 2018, a lot has happened for Deep Branch: “We’ve had to scale a technology, develop a product, work on applications for that product, and, of course, grow a business.” But the company isn’t stopping now.
“We view our business as a platform,” Pete explains. “Protein is one thing we can make, but industrial biotechnology has shown to be able to make a bunch of useful products, from enzymes used in laundry detergents to vitamins and even medicines.”
“Once we prove that our protein production process is technologically viable, the next step is to start bringing those next products through our pipeline.” With this, Deep Branch is certainly poised for an exciting future of innovation and impact.
“It’s been an interesting journey: some things went really well, others didn’t quite go to plan,” Pete says at the end of our interview — “it’s been challenging, but also really cool.”
From its roots at PLNT to global recognition, Deep Branch’s story demonstrates an inspiring commitment to transforming challenges into opportunities — and we’re excited to see where their success will take them in the future!
