DisperseBio
DisperseBio engineers nature-inspired peptide technology that prevents biofilm formation and biofouling in industrial water systems and maritime applications. Its synthetic Eqt2Z peptide replicates a sea anemone protein’s signaling function to trigger the natural dispersal phase of the microbial life cycle without toxic chemicals. The company reports a 90% reduction in biofilm on desalination membranes over a 20-day trial and a 78% cost savings versus traditional chlorine treatments.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biotechnology
- Clean Technology
- Energy
- Hardware
- Industrial Automation
- New Materials
- Software Only
Funding
Founders
Product
Problem
Biofilm and biofouling cost global industries over $100 billion annually, driving up to 20% higher energy consumption, frequent operational downtime, membrane replacement, and equipment damage. Existing control methods rely on toxic chemicals, expensive physical cleaning, degrading coatings, or inconsistent ultrasonic treatments, all of which face regulatory pressure and rising antimicrobial resistance.
Solution
DisperseBio provides a synthetic peptide platform that mimics a 600-million-year-old natural defense mechanism found in the sea anemone Actinia Equina. Its engineered Eqt2Z peptide replicates the signaling function of the natural Eqt2 II protein, triggering the dispersal phase of the microbial life cycle so that biofilms detach and are prevented from forming—without killing microbes. The peptide can be deployed via water dosing or as a paint and coating additive, requiring no infrastructure or workflow changes. With extreme potency, merely 244 grams protects a mid-size seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant for one year, and 18 grams protects an entire container ship. This approach replaces toxic anti-foulants with a non-toxic, scalable biology that prevents fouling before it starts, improving operational performance while cutting costs.
Target Audience
Primary customers are operators of desalination plants, cooling towers, and other industrial water systems, as well as maritime stakeholders including shipping companies, shipbuilders, and underwater equipment manufacturers seeking to eliminate biofilm and biofouling.
Features
- Synthetic Eqt2Z peptide engineered from the natural Eqt2 II protein of Actinia Equina, providing a stable, non-toxic molecule that triggers microbial dispersion
- Mechanism of action targets natural signaling pathways to initiate the dispersal phase of the microbial life cycle, preventing biofilm formation rather than killing microbes
- Dual deployment modes: direct water dosing for pipes, desalination plants, and cooling towers, plus integration as a paint or coating additive for maritime surfaces
- Extreme potency enables massive scalability: 244 grams protects a mid-size SWRO desalination plant for one year; 18 grams protects an entire container ship
- Scalable synthesis manufacturing process is ready, with zero-friction integration requiring no changes to existing infrastructure or workflows
- Demonstrated results include 90% biofilm reduction on desalination membranes over 20 days, 90% lower electricity use from reduced pressure, 78% cost savings over chlorine treatments, and a potential $4 million in annual fuel savings per large vessel