Neoplants

About Neoplants

Neoplants, a Parisian biotech company established in 2018, is focused on developing bioengineered plants to combat indoor air pollution. The company was founded by Lionel Mora, who serves as CEO, and Patrick Torbey, the CTO. Mora brings a business and product marketing background from his time at Google, while Torbey contributes his expertise in genetics, holding a PhD in genome editing from Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. Their collaboration began at the Station F startup incubator, driven by a shared vision to apply bioengineering to solve real-world environmental problems.

The company's core business revolves around creating "plants with a purpose" by enhancing their natural ability to purify the air. Neoplants targets the significant issue of indoor air pollution, which can be up to five times higher than outdoor levels, by focusing on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Its primary product, initially named Neo P1 and later referred to as Neo Px, is a bioengineered Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) plant. This system is engineered to be up to 30 times more effective than standard houseplants at capturing and metabolizing harmful VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Instead of merely storing pollutants, the plant converts them into substances like sugars and amino acids. The system includes the plant, a specially designed pot to maximize airflow, and monthly microbiome supplements called "Power Drops" to maintain peak performance. The business model is direct-to-consumer, initially targeting the U.S. market with a price point around $179 for the complete system.

Neoplants has secured approximately $20 million in funding from investors including True Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Collab Fund, and Entrepreneur First. The company's long-term ambitions extend beyond indoor air purification to larger-scale applications such as carbon capture. While their first fully genetically modified plant, Neo P1, is still navigating regulatory approvals and development, the company has launched Neo Px, which utilizes an enhanced microbiome with a regular Pothos plant to achieve its air-purifying effects. This positions Neoplants in a unique category between ornamental houseplants and mechanical air purifiers, offering a sustainable, nature-based solution.