Spore.Bio Wins Google.org Funding to Launch Advanced AI Microbiology Research Unit

Paris-based biotech firm Spore.Bio has secured multi-million-euro funding from the Google.org Fund for AI in Science. This investment marks a significant milestone as the company launches Spore.Labs, an AI-native research division dedicated to solving critical public health challenges. The company stands as the only startup globally selected for this specific microbiology initiative under the Google.org fund.

The funding follows the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Google DeepMind leaders for their work on protein structures. With these new resources, Spore.Bio plans to develop open datasets and collaborate with academic and clinical partners to validate its microbial detection methods. Amine Raji, CEO of Spore.Bio, noted that the research environment aims to dissolve the boundaries between biology, physics, and computer science.

Traditional microbiology testing remains a major industrial hurdle, often requiring five to twenty days for results. Spore.Bio addresses this delay with a proprietary combination of biophotonics and machine learning. Their custom hardware captures the unique spectral fingerprints of microorganisms at the single-cell level, providing immediate on-site analysis according to the news reported by Startup Rise.

The company uses visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared wavelengths to feed data into a foundational AI model trained on millions of images. This technology integrates directly into an in-house dashboard for manufacturers, offering near real-time insights and enhanced traceability. By cutting down wait times, the startup aims to prevent contaminated products from ever entering the supply chain.

Founded in 2023 by Amine Raji, Maxime Mistretta, and Mohamed Tazi, the firm has raised roughly 29.9 million euros to date. This latest grant includes Google Cloud Platform credits to scale their computational capacity for deep learning. The leadership team combines expertise from diverse backgrounds, including former Nestlé engineers and Pasteur Institute researchers.

Looking ahead, the company is aggressively expanding its talent pool to maintain its technological lead. The firm is currently recruiting 15 scientists across deep learning, photonics, and microbiology. Their strategic roadmap involves growing this research team to 30 specialists by the end of 2026 to further refine their AI-driven public health solutions and expand their impact on global manufacturing safety.