Vulcan Capital leads $10.5m round of Singapore biotech startup

Asian Microbiome Library (Amili), a Singapore-based biotech firm, has raised US$10.5 million in a series A funding led by Vulcan Capital.

Photo credit: Bio & Me

The firm will use the fresh funds to accelerate its business expansion in Southeast Asia and, subsequently, across the rest of Asia. The funds will also go toward further developing its proprietary microbiome analytics engine.

Amili is looking to build the world’s largest multiethnic Asia-centric repository of microbiome data and samples, including Southeast Asia’s only microbiome bank.

Through its proprietary analytics engine, Amili Prime, the company develops diagnostics tests, predictive algorithms, and microbiome-modifying tools.

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Though the field has advanced over the years, there is still a big gap in gut health research that is representative of the Asian population, said Tommy Teo, managing director and head of Southeast Asia at Vulcan Capital.

Since its launch in 2019, Amili has established over 20 research studies. The company recently launched a direct-to-consumer precision gut health brand, Bio & Me, in Singapore and plans to expand into the rest of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong later this year.

Other investors in the round include

• Pruksa Group
• TVM Capital Healthcare
• Emtek Group
• Capital Code
• Seeds Capital
• Pureland Group
• Blue7
• GK Goh