Cambridge Consultants announced the launch of a new DNA synthesis spin-out company, Evonetix. The joint venture, supported by technology entrepreneur and venture capitalist Hermann Hauser, exploits novel methods in DNA synthesis. Evonetix focus on producing DNA with very high accuracy – in nature, for example, the error rate is less than one in a billion. High-quality DNA is crucial for enabling widespread use of synthetic biology techniques.

“We are applying an engineering approach to biology, using our multidisciplinary skills to take new technology and apply it in the real world,” said Nick McCooke, CEO of Evonetix. “Combined with our commercial expertise, it means we are uniquely placed to take this radical new idea to market.”

SynbiCITE partner, Cambridge Consultants, is no stranger to the world of translation and start-ups. Evonetix is the latest in a long line of more than 20 spin-outs from Cambridge Consultants, which has been at the centre of the Cambridge technology cluster in the UK for over 50 years.

The Spin-out history of Cambridge Consultants

“We have a track record of creating spin-outs that change market dynamics and disrupt whole industries,” said Ray Edgson, ventures director at Cambridge Consultants. “With Evonetix, we are now poised to transform the synthetic biology industry.”

Hermann Hauser has started a string of technology companies, including Acorn Computers, ARM, as well as CSR – and next-generation DNA sequencing technology company Solexa, which became the market leader before being acquired by Illumina. With his experience in Solexa and DNA reading, DNA writing would be logical next step.

“It shows Cambridge Consultant's capabilities in bringing engineering and biology together - the essence of synthetic biology,” said Richard Hammond, Head of Synthetic Biology at Cambridge Consultants. “We are taking synthetic biology very seriously as a major new technology… investing in both our fee-for-service consulting offering and a high-potential start-up.”