Bildnachweis: Ningaloo, VC Magazin, Pixabay, BioCampus Cologne.
Ningaloo Biosystems’ technology enables the control of biological processes in living cells using light, thereby improving the productivity, quality, scalability, and reliability of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Ningaloo Biosystems develops biological systems that use different wavelengths of light to control multiple cellular processes in a bioreactor in real time. This enables large-scale production of novel and complex therapeutics and vaccines. To achieve this, the start-up has developed the ‘Opto-Bioproduction’ platform technology, based on insights from the field of optogenetics. ‘Our business approach has benefitted from a unique combination of technological expertise and industrial application,’ explains Dr Herbert Mueller-Hartmann, co-founder and CEO of Ningaloo. ‘Dr Hanns-Martin Schmidt, cofounder and Head of R&D, has been focused on optogenetics as a technology, while I bring detailed insights into the challenges in the industry and experience from technology implementation.’
Next financing secured
In February 2025, Ningaloo closed a new financing round to scale its optogenetic bioproduction solutions for complex active ingredients in preclinical and early clinical phases. The round was led by NRW.Bank and supported by private investors such as the Weinberger Family Office, Roland Oetker, and capacura. ‘We are grateful for the continued support of our existing investors and the commitment of our new partners,’ says Mueller-Hartmann. ‘This funding will allow us to take our innovative approach to the next level.’
Technology characteristics
Founded in 2020 in Cologne, the start-up is on a mission to revolutionise the production of biopharmaceuticals through the application of light-based technologies. By leveraging optogenetics, complex proteins and gene therapeutics can be produced more effectively. Ningaloo Biosystems’ technologies also allow for precise and flexible adjustment of production conditions. The results include a significantly more efficient biopharmaceutical production process, reduced costs, and improved availability of medicines. ‘Biopharmaceuticals based on the latest discoveries are still incredibly expensive,’ Mueller-Hartmann notes. ‘Scaling their production remains a major challenge – and that’s our primary focus: high controllability combined with strong productivity, with the long-term goal of also enabling decentralised and personalised therapeutics.’ This new generation of medicines holds proven potential to cure diseases previously deemed untreatable, such as autoimmune conditions and aggressive types of cancer. With a radical reduction in currently exorbitant manufacturing costs, Ningaloo aims to ensure these innovative drugs can reach a broad patient population and evolve into blockbuster therapies.
Strategic location with a USP
As a tenant at the Rechtsrheinisches Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Köln (RTZ), Ningaloo benefits not only from fully equipped laboratory facilities but also from being embedded in a vibrant community of biotech startups for a period of up to eight years. Afterwards, companies can transition to the BioCampus Cologne (BCC), which offers additional space for expansion. ‘This means we can support start-up growth without limits,’ explains André van Hall, Managing Director of both BioCampus Cologne and the RTZ. ‘That’s a unique selling point!’
