ValleyDAO, with the ticker GROW, is an open global community providing funding and translational support for synthetic biology research. The community’s mission is to use collective action to tackle climate challenges by leveraging the power of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology uses biological organisms to manufacture products such as animal-free meat, nutrients, fuels, and medicine sustainably. ValleyDAO believes that developing and adopting these technologies are crucial for addressing the existential threats posed by climate change and food security. As a decentralized community, ValleyDAO helps researchers maximize the impact of their work by taking their research results beyond the laboratory and into the real world.

ValleyDAO funds and incubates academic and independent research projects, providing a streamlined application process to support researchers in making a difference. Their ecosystem operates in three key steps: community assessment and voting for research projects, commercialization of intellectual property generated through funded research, and allocation of proceeds to researchers and reinvestment in future projects. By following this approach, ValleyDAO ensures a sustainable funding model where earnings are continuously channeled back into pioneering research. Joining the ValleyDAO community allows researchers to receive funding, collaborate with experts, and bring their innovations to life.

ValleyDAO’s commitment to supporting synthetic biology research is showcased through their featured projects. For instance, Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial College London aims to enhance the production yield of oils in yeast while reducing downstream processing costs. On the other hand, Pablo I. Nikel and Mariela P. Mezzina from Denmark’s Technical University focus on the sustainable biofluorination of organic molecules, addressing manufacturing difficulties in the electronics, healthcare, automotive, and wearables industries. Additionally, Jean-Loup Faulon and Joan Hrisson from the University of Paris-Saclay have developed SynbioCAD, a software that streamlines metabolic route design for bioproduction, saving valuable time for technicians. These projects exemplify how ValleyDAO supports innovation and research advancements in synthetic biology.