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Mascoma

Biotech & Life Sciences · Boston, United States · Founded 2005

Mascoma was established in 2005 as a biofuel enterprise focused on producing cellulosic ethanol from non-food materials like wood and switchgrass. The company originated from research at Dartmouth College and was co-founded by professors Lee Lynd and Charles Wyman, alongside CEO Robert Johnsen. Lynd, a distinguished professor in environmental engineering, has dedicated his career to the sustainable production of energy from plant biomass, co-founding Mascoma to translate his academic research into commercial applications. The firm's name is a nod to Mascoma Lake, situated near its Lebanon, New Hampshire, headquarters. Initially, Mascoma attracted significant investment from venture capital firms such as Flagship Ventures and Khosla Ventures in 2006. The company's primary business was centered on developing and commercializing bio-engineered yeasts and other microbes to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of renewable fuel and chemical production. Its core technology platform, Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP), aimed to streamline the conversion of cellulosic biomass into ethanol. A key product, Mascoma Grain Technology (MGT), utilized a genetically-modified yeast that produces its own enzymes, thereby improving ethanol yields from corn-based processes. In a significant strategic shift, Mascoma entered into an exclusive partnership with Lallemand Inc. in 2012 to manufacture and distribute its MGT yeast product. This collaboration culminated in November 2014 when Lallemand acquired Mascoma's yeast business assets, including the company name, trademarks, all proprietary yeast strains, and the entire research and development team. Following the acquisition, the R&D facility in Lebanon, NH, was rebranded as Mascoma LLC and now operates as a research and development center for Lallemand. It functions as a semi-independent group, leveraging synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to create new products for the global fuel, food, and feed markets. The remaining assets of the original Mascoma Corp. were subsequently renamed Enchi Corporation. Keywords: industrial biotechnology, cellulosic ethanol, bio-engineered yeast, renewable fuels, metabolic engineering, Lallemand, biomass conversion, biofuels, synthetic biology, microbial products