12 August 2025

Picture a tool so clever that it can help scientists write entirely new proteins—those tiny molecular machines that power life—and do so faster, cheaper, and with fewer lab experiments. That’s exactly what Cradle Bio, a Dutch-Swiss biotechnology company founded in 2021, is doing—and why it’s quietly becoming one of Europe’s most exciting unsung innovators.

From Trial-and-Error to AI-Powered Precision

Traditionally, designing proteins—whether for medicines, eco-friendly chemicals, or sustainable foods—has been laborious. It usually involves making countless changes to a protein’s structure, running experiments that may take weeks and cost vast sums, only to end up with limited or unreliable results.

Cradle Bio turns that on its head. Using generative artificial intelligence—a bit like how chatbots create text—it trains its models on billions of protein sequences, enriched with data from experiments in its own wet lab. Then, when a scientist inputs what they need—perhaps a protein that stays stable at high temperatures or binds tightly to a specific target—the AI outputs promising new protein candidates to test in the lab.

The result? What once required 10 to 20 experimental rounds now takes perhaps just a fraction—Cradle claims up to 12× faster progress in commercial projects, and up to 90% fewer experiments.

A Platform Engineers Can Use—Without Needing to Be AI Experts

One of Cradle’s superpowers is its accessibility. The platform looks and feels like user-friendly software: scientists can simply upload their data, specify desired traits, and receive AI-generated protein designs—without needing a PhD in bioinformatics or a background in machine learning.

That’s a huge deal. It helps democratise protein engineering, spreading this powerful capability across labs that don’t normally have AI specialists on staff.

Already Gaining Traction—With Industry Heavyweights

Cradle isn’t just a promising theory—it’s delivering results. Its platform is already being used by major players like Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Novo Nordisk, Grifols, Novonesis, and Twist Bioscience.

In one case, a biotech client increased the activity of a crucial enzyme (P450) fourfold in just three experimental rounds; doing the same with traditional methods might have taken ten times more rounds. On another front, Cradle's AI models ranked among the top two out of 30 teams in a competitive enzyme design benchmark—all automatically, without human intervention.

These breakthroughs reflect a real, competitive edge being gained through generative AI.

Fuelled by Investment and Ambition

Backing from top-tier investors reflects growing confidence. After raising a $24 million Series A in 2023, led by Index Ventures and Kindred Capital, Cradle closed a $73 million Series B round in late 2024, led by IVP, bringing total funding to over $100 million.

The funds are being put to work expanding Cradle’s Amsterdam wet lab, enhancing automation, generating proprietary datasets, and growing both the AI and biotech teams to meet increasing demand.

As CEO Stef van Grieken has pu it, their goal is bold: “to put Cradle’s software into the hands of one million scientists”, empowering them to build smarter, more sustainable products faster.

What Makes Cradle Unique—and Why It Matters

1. The AI-plus-lab model: Many firms rely solely on computational models. Cradle integrates AI with its own wet lab, generating high-quality datasets—something critical for biology, where data scarcity can derail models.
2. Data privacy and IP control: Clients maintain full ownership of their engineered proteins. Cradle isolates models per customer, ensuring confidentiality—a big plus for companies guarding drug IP.
3. Wide applicability: Whether it’s therapeutic proteins, industrial enzymes, crops, or diagnostics—Cradle’s architecture spans applications across pharma, agriculture, food, chemicals, and beyond.
4. Ease of use for scientists: The “software-as-a-service” approach removes traditional barriers—no need for AI know-how, royalties, or complex licensing schemes.

Market Potential: From Billions to Trillions

Cradle sits at the heart of a swelling market: AI in drug discovery, valued at around USD 1.94 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 16.49 billion by 2034—a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 27%.

But that’s just pharmaceuticals. Protein engineering touches countless sectors: from greener crops and sustainable chemicals to food substitutes and diagnostics. Each represents its own multi-billion-dollar opportunity. Cradle’s model speeds up R&D, cuts costs, and makes breakthrough products more attainable—accelerating innovation across the bioeconomy.

A European Gem, Set in a Continental Renaissance

Cradle exemplifies a broader shift in Europe’s AI and biotech sectors—from hype to deep innovation. From Amsterdam’s thriving ecosystem (home to thousands of startups and increasing capital flows) to the rise of synthetic biology labs across the continent, Europe is staking a claim in the next wave of AI-powered discovery.

Cradle’s recognition reflects this momentum: named one of Wired’s “Hottest Startups in Amsterdam in 2024”, honoured as “Startup of the Year 2024” by MT/Sprout, and included in Bloomberg’s “25 European Startups to Watch” list.

Europe’s strength lies in blending deep scientific heritage with growing AI expertise—and Cradle sits right at that intersection.

Looking Ahead

If Cradle succeeds in its ambition—putting AI-powered protein design into the hands of a million scientists—it could redefine how we create life-changing technologies. Imagine new vaccines developed in months instead of years; eco-friendly crops designed for climate resilience; or enzymes engineered to clean up pollution—all built faster, smarter, and more affordably.

That’s not science fiction—it’s what Cradle Bio is building today. And in that lies its true revolutionary power.