Theia Ventures, an India-based early-stage fund specialising in AI, deeptech, energy transition, and decarbonisation, has led a pre-seed investment in Lemnisca, a Bio-AI company developing intelligent systems to scale biomanufacturing. The round also saw participation from PointOne Capital and Dr. Satakarni Makkapati. The funding will support Lemnisca’s Bengaluru laboratory, AI platform development, and early pilot projects aimed at enabling sustainable bioproduction at scale.

Lemnisca is building an AI companion for fermentation that helps manufacturers scale bioprocesses faster, more predictably, and with higher efficiency. As industries shift toward renewable feedstocks and biological alternatives to petrochemicals, reliable scale-up of biomanufacturing has become critical. While AI has advanced molecule discovery, the bigger challenge lies in translating lab innovations into industrial-scale production efficiently.

The company’s AI system works alongside scientists and operators, integrating wet-lab experimentation with dry-lab modelling to interpret process biology and adjust production in real time. This creates a continuously learning platform that enhances the efficiency, predictability, and reliability of biomanufacturing.

Lemnisca plans to collaborate with fermentation-led manufacturers already on the path toward scaled bioproduction while developing its own product pipeline. The startup aims to cut development timelines by up to 50 per cent, improve operational efficiency by 25 per cent, and accelerate adoption of renewable and waste-carbon feedstocks. It is currently inviting pilot partnerships with CDMOs, OEMs/SIs, and global ingredient companies.

Priya Shah, Partner at Theia Ventures, said the firm is excited to support Lemnisca’s vision, noting that modern biomanufacturing requires digital simulators capable of predicting microbial process behaviour before industrial-scale deployment. She added that the team brings deep practical experience relevant to applications in nutraceutical markets.

Pushkar Pendse, Co-founder and CEO of Lemnisca, said the company aims to make biomanufacturing the default mode of production globally by building a digital operating system that seamlessly brings biology from lab to factory. Co-founder and CTO Shilpa Nargund added that the team is rethinking everything—from lab workflows to model architectures—to make scale-up faster and more predictable.

This marks Theia Ventures’ third investment from its new fund, which recently completed its first close anchored by British International Investment. The fund’s earlier investments include Sarla Aviation, an electric aircraft company, and Climitra Carbon, which supplies biochar to the steel industry. Three additional investments are planned for deployment within the current financial year.