Sustainable solutions for modern agriculture
Our Values
At Kula Bio, we work and live by our shared values
Innovation
We define innovation as the ability to generate new ideas and to execute the ideas such that they have a meaningful impact on our company and on the world. We love the continuous challenge of inventing, implementing and finishing.
Intellectual Honesty
We’re incredible optimists, but have the discipline to see things clearly. We love to debate our strong views, but value a “growth mindset”: entering every situation to learn, not to defend our ideas for personal gain or prove we’re the smartest in the room. We have opinions, but the customer holds all of the facts.
Balance
We believe that if you are able to strike a balance between all the significant facets of life, you will have the courage to chase bigger goals. We think that workforce diversity and work-life management are critical to unlocking our collective and unique talents.
Integrity
We are really competitive, but we treat each other, we treat customers, we treat partners with honesty, transparency and respect. In balancing all of this, we exhibit a “generosity of spirit”, that is, we give each other the benefit of doubt even in the most difficult situations.
Kula Bio Management Team
Bill Brady
Bill is not only an avid gardener and micro- farmer, but has spent his career at the intersection of technology and industry. He has led large, complex organizations as well as impactful technology companies in the synthetic biology and sustainable carbon industries.
Harrison Yoon, PhD
Harrison is a recognized and seasoned veteran of the biotechnology and life science industries, with over 25 years of experience in the United States and Asia. Over his career, Harrison has held several leadership positions in executive management as CTO, COO and CEO, and is an industry expert in cell culture and fermentation, as well as bioprocess design, development and optimization.
Jon Sammons, PhD
For more than 15 years, Jon has worked closely with enhanced efficiency fertilizers holding various positions in research, marketing, sales and management, addressing both organic and conventional agriculture.
Lakshmi Praba Manavalan, PhD
Lakshmi is an enthusiastic leader with two decades of experience bridging R&D concepts to commercialization across seeds, traits, chemicals and biologicals. She drives scientific research in developing sustainable solutions that enhance nutrient use efficiency and crop protection to make a difference. She enjoys bringing technical storylines to life.
Frederic Kendirgi, PhD
Frederic is an expert and proven leader within the biotechnology sector, with extensive experience in developing biological solutions for agriculture. Frederic has held various impactful positions in the areas of R&D, Operations and Manufacturing Science.
Scientific Advisory Board
Prof. Daniel Nocera
Dan is a luminary of the alternative energy world, leading a research group that has pioneered practical and impact-focused strides in the conversion of solar energy into food, fuels, and materials.
Prof. Molly Jahn
As a lauded plant breeder, Molly is no stranger to the journey from the lab to the field. Having lead research groups at Cornell and UW-Madison, she has also served numerous roles within the USDA overseeing research programs.
Prof. Pamela Silver
Pam has left no stone unturned in the microbial world. With her lab, she has driven research to solve challenges of microbiome communities from the human gut to agricultural soils.
Upendra Singh, PhD
Upendra’s career in soil-plant-nutrient dynamics and fertilizer research spans the globe, with research and training programs in over 36 countries. Upendra is a globally recognized leader in soil and crop fertility.
Board of Directors
Russ Wilcox, Pillar VC
Bill Brady, Kula Bio
Dan Nocera, Harvard University
Craig Shapiro, Collaborative Fund
J. Paul Austin III, Bopu Fund