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Cyrus Biotechnology
Cyrus Biotechnology was founded in 2016 by Lucas Nivon, who previously worked with David Baker at the University of Washington's Institute for Protein...
Cyrus Biotechnology
Cyrus Biotechnology was founded in 2016 by Lucas Nivon, who previously worked with David Baker at the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design. The company licenses and commercializes the Rosetta software suite, a molecular modeling platform used for designing novel proteins. Wealth origin is not publicly disclosed; the firm is structured as a private technology company, not a family office. The firm's core offering combines the Rosetta software with custom cloud computing and machine learning tools to accelerate protein engineering. Clients include pharmaceutical companies, agricultural biotechs, and industrial enzyme producers. Cyrus has disclosed partnerships with entities like Merck and Ginkgo Bioworks, though specific financial terms are not public. Geographically, the firm focuses on North America and Europe, with some engagement in Asia. Cyrus has raised venture capital, including a $8M Series A in 2019 led by F-Prime Capital and a $5.7M round from the Washington Research Foundation. It is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with no publicly listed additional offices. The company has not disclosed its team size. An operational milestone from the last 24 months: October 2024: Cyrus expanded its protein design services to include generative AI models trained on high-throughput experimental data (per public record). Cyrus's structural differentiator is its exclusive commercial license to the Rosetta software suite, a tool that is also used extensively in academic research. This IP position gives it a unique moat in computational protein design, while its services model reduces the capital intensity and risk profile compared to therapeutic-development peers.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2016
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Seattle
Corporate office
Seattle, WA, United States
Principals
Lucas Nivon
CEO
David Baker
Scientific Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is Cyrus Biotechnology a family office or a venture-backed company?
Cyrus Biotechnology is a private technology company, not a family office. It is venture-backed, with known investors including F-Prime Capital and the Washington Research Foundation (per public record). It operates as a software and services provider for protein engineering.
How does Cyrus generate revenue?
Cyrus generates revenue through licensing its Rosetta software platform to clients, as well as offering fee-for-service computational design projects, cloud computing access, and custom engineering services. Clients retain IP rights to the designed molecules (per public record).
What is the relationship between Cyrus and the University of Washington?
Cyrus was spun out of the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design, founded by Nobel laureate David Baker. The company holds an exclusive commercial license to the Rosetta software suite, which was developed primarily at UW. Baker serves as a scientific advisor or founder, but is not involved in day-to-day operations (per public record).
Who runs investment decisions at Cyrus?
Cyrus is led by CEO Lucas Nivon, who founded the company in 2016. The board includes representatives from venture investors. There is no single-family-office structure; capital allocation is determined by the executive team and board based on client contracts and development milestones.
Which investment stages does Cyrus typically target?
Cyrus does not invest external capital. It is a product and services company that targets partnerships with both early-stage biotechs and established pharmaceutical firms. Its clients span preclinical to commercial stages.
What sectors does Cyrus explicitly avoid?
Cyrus does not publicly disclose any explicit sector avoidance. Its technology is applicable across protein-engineering domains, but it has no disclosed focus on gene editing or small-molecule drug development.
Does Cyrus maintain philanthropic structures?
There is no public record of Cyrus operating a philanthropic foundation or charitable arm. The company is structured solely as a for-profit entity.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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