Cauldron: Unlocking the Future of Biomanufacturing

Cauldron: Unlocking the Future of Biomanufacturing

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Cauldron is pioneering next-generation bioprocess innovation with its proprietary continuous “hyper-fermentation” technology, delivering unprecedented productivity and cost reductions that make industrial-scale biomanufacturing commercially viable.

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Biomanufacturing holds immense promise: up to 60% of the physical inputs to the global economy could, in principle, be produced biologically. Yet precision fermentation has historically been limited to niche, premium applications. The next frontier is scaling these processes to mainstream, high-volume products – from food ingredients to materials and fuels. Achieving this requires breakthroughs in both cost and volume, and Cauldron has developed the solution.

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Traditional biomanufacturing is done in a batch or fed-batch method, which is too costly and inefficient for mainstream applications. Instead of cycling production in discrete batches, continuous fermentation is a method that offers an alternative path forward – with potential to radically drive unit costs down and improve capital efficiency. However, technical hurdles have held back industrial applications of continuous fermentation. Cauldron’s hyper-fermentation technology overcomes these barriers, establishing a stable, repeatable process that delivers higher volumes, lower costs, and reduced resource inputs.

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Setting New Industry Benchmarks

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Cauldron partners with bioproduct companies to provide process optimization and scale up services, accelerating their path to commercial viability. These services are provided at Cauldron’s Demonstration Facility in Orange, NSW.

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Cauldron has validated hyper-fermentation with multiple microbial strains, converting fed-batch processes into efficient continuous processes. By maintaining microbes in a steady, productive state, Cauldron achieves both stability and productivity at scale. Working with commercial strains, Cauldron has proven that hyper-fermentation can run stably for weeks to months, scale up from lab to pilot-scale, and dramatically improve unit economics. 

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Cauldron is the first to demonstrate true industrial-scale continuous fermentation for synthetic biology strains at 10,000-liter scale. Their 30,000-liter Demo Facility in Orange, NSW is the heart of Cauldron’s operations. In Q3 2024, the Federal Executive Government of Australia announced $4.3M in funding from the Industry Growth Program to support Cauldron's expansion. Over the last 12 months, Cauldron has deployed this capital to expand and upgrade the site, adding new downstream processing equipment and analytical capacity. Notably, Cauldron is the first company in Australia licensed by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) to run Pichia pastoris at 10,000-liter scale – a regulatory milestone underscoring the safety and quality of its process.

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Building Bio-Innovation Momentum

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Cauldron’s achievements have been recognized globally and regionally. For the second consecutive year, it was named “Best Regional Startup” by Startup Daily’s Best in Tech Awards in 2025. On the global stage, the World Economic Forum selected Cauldron as a 2025 Technology Pioneer, honoring startups with transformative technologies poised to make a lasting positive impact.

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In January 2026, CEO and Co-Founder Michele Stansfield spoke at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on “Bioeconomy Breakthroughs.” The Forum also released a video showcasing Cauldron’s technology and its role in shaping the future of manufacturing: Watch here.

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In less than three years since its founding, Cauldron has advanced from promise to proof, establishing itself as a leader in bioindustrial manufacturing.

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Proud Supporter of Cellular Agriculture Australia

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By anchoring operations in regional Australia, Cauldron demonstrates how biomanufacturing can drive economic growth, diversify jobs, and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities. Cauldron proudly partners with Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) to advance thought leadership on the bioeconomy’s role in the future of food.

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CAA plays a pivotal role in promoting insights across the value chain to accelerate adoption of bio-innovation. Cauldron is grateful to CAA and fellow sponsors for fostering collaboration and providing guidance to policymakers.