Silvia Bio, a Sheffield, United Kingdom-based biotechnology startup focused on improving biopharmaceutical manufacturing, has raised £3 million in a Seed funding round led by Northern Gritstone.
The round also saw participation from the Parkwalk Northern Universities Venture Fund, the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, Wren Capital, and angel investors.
Founded in 2025 by Ed Curry, Melinda Pohle, Professor Adam Brown, and Professor David James, Silvia Bio is a spinout from the University of Sheffield. The company builds on more than two decades of university research into biomanufacturing and mammalian cell biology. Curry serves as CEO, while Pohle is Chief Scientific Officer.
Silvia Bio develops biotechnology solutions designed to improve the performance of mammalian cells used in manufacturing biological medicines, including therapeutic antibodies and gene therapies.
Its integrated platform uses proprietary cell-profiling technology to examine cellular performance during manufacturing and identify biological processes that constrain production efficiency and product quality.
Based on these findings, the company develops precision media additives compatible with existing bioreactor systems. These additives are designed to address identified cellular bottlenecks, improve production yields, and enhance critical quality attributes of manufactured biological products.
The new funding will support Silvia Bio’s transition from university facilities into dedicated laboratory space at Sheffield’s Innovation Centre.
The company also plans to triple its workforce, automate previously manual processes, expand commercial operations, and accelerate the development of additional licensable products.
Silvia Bio has already validated its platform with industrial partners and intends to use the investment to expand its international commercial reach.
