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Evogene
Evogene is a computational biology firm deploying AI for gene discovery in agriculture, human health, and industrial applications.
Evogene
Evogene was founded in 2002 by researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science to commercialize computational biology for gene discovery. The company went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2002 and later listed on NASDAQ (EVGN) before voluntarily delisting in 2024. Its core technology, the Gene Discovery and Optimization System (GODS), applies machine learning to predict gene functions across multiple organisms. Evogene's strategy centers on licensing its AI platform across three main verticals: agriculture (Crop Protection through its Canonic subsidiary), human microbiome (through its Biomica subsidiary), and industrial applications. The company has disclosed partnerships with Corteva Agriscience and Syngenta for crop-trait development, and with Merck for microbiome-based therapeutics. Geographically, Evogene operates from its Rehovot headquarters, with research collaborations spanning North America and Europe. As of 2024, Evogene employed approximately 120 people, with R&D comprising the majority. The firm has raised over $200 million in public equity and grants since inception, including a 2022 private placement of $12 million (per the firm's SEC filings, 2022). It also maintains a U.S. subsidiary, Evogene Inc., based in Wilmington, Delaware. No philanthropic foundation or separate operating company is publicly disclosed. Evogene's structural differentiator is its platform-as-a-service model: rather than developing its own products end-to-end, it licenses its AI-powered gene discovery engine to large partners in exchange for upfront fees, milestones, and royalties. This model reduces capital intensity while retaining upside via downstream success, a structure uncommon among pure ag-biotech firms.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2002
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Israel
City
Rehovot
Corporate office
Rehovot, Israel
Principals
Ofer Haviv
CEO
Dr. Ilya Persky
CFO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Evogene source proprietary deal flow?
Evogene sources deals primarily through direct licensing of its AI platform, the Gene Discovery and Optimization System (GODS), to agricultural and pharmaceutical partners. The firm does not operate a traditional fund structure; instead, it enters into R&D collaborations with large ag-chem and biopharma companies, exchanging access to its platform for milestone payments and royalties. Deals are typically initiated through scientific conferences and existing industry relationships.
Is Evogene structured as a family office or an operating company?
Evogene is a publicly traded operating company (TASE: EVGN), not a family office or asset manager. Its business is computational biology — developing and licensing genetic discoveries. The firm's shareholders include institutional investors and retail holders, with no identifiable single-family backing. Its CEO Ofer Haviv is a career life-sciences executive, not a wealth manager.
What investment stages does Evogene typically target?
Evogene does not make investments; it is an R&D company. It targets early-stage discovery (gene identification and validation) and then partners with larger firms for late-stage development and commercialization. Its platform is designed for preclinical-to-phase I readiness, after which external partners handle clinical trials and market launch.
Which sectors does Evogene explicitly avoid?
Evogene does not publicly disclose any excluded sectors beyond the scope of its platform. Its three verticals — agriculture, human microbiome, and industrial enzymes — define its operating range. It has not pursued applications in medical devices, diagnostics, or synthetic biology outside its core gene-discovery focus.
Does Evgene maintain philanthropic structures?
No public records indicate philanthropic foundations or charitable arms associated with Evogene. The company operates as a for-profit entity and does not separate philanthropic activities from its corporate structure. Any social impact is indirect, through product applications such as crop yield improvement.
Who runs investment decisions at Evogene?
Investment decisions — regarding R&D prioritization, partnerships, and capital allocation — are made by the executive team led by CEO Ofer Haviv and CFO Dr. Ilya Persky, with oversight from the board of directors. The firm does not have a dedicated investment committee or CIO role; funding is raised through public offerings, private placements, and government grants.
What is Evogene's known posture on co-investments alongside external partners?
Evogene does not engage in co-investments. Its collaborations are structured as license deals or joint R&D agreements, not equity investments. For example, its partnership with Corteva is a multi-year R&D agreement to discover insect-resistance traits, with Corteva funding development and Evogene receiving milestones and royalties (per official press release, 2021).
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