Advancing Agtech Innovation Through Research Excellence
Founded in 2021, Solis Agrosciences is a trusted partner for high-quality agricultural technology research services. The company supports clients across the plant lifecycle, offering expertise in plant transformation and gene editing, plant phenotyping, and end-to-end sequencing services.
Whether developing a novel plant trait or enhancing an existing line, Solis combines scientific rigor with best practices in laboratory operations and stewardship, helping innovators advance their discoveries toward commercialization. By providing reliable, scalable research services, Solis accelerates progress for both startups and established companies in the Agtech ecosystem.
Solis Agrosciences Highlights
Since its founding, Solis has achieved significant milestones that demonstrate growth, credibility, and impact:
- Strategic Funding: Solis closed approximately $8M in funding to expand service offerings, scale revenue, and achieve profitability, strengthening its capacity to support a growing client base.
- Experienced Leadership: The company is led by industry veterans with deep expertise in R&D, product development, and regulatory compliance, ensuring high-quality, scientifically rigorous solutions.
- Growing Customer Base: Solis serves dozens of venture-backed startups and large public companies, supporting innovations that span the Agtech landscape.
- Strategic Acquisition: In 2024, Solis acquired Ferris Genomics, integrating advanced sequencing services to complement its existing offerings and provide a more comprehensive research platform.
Ecosystem Impact: Beyond services, Solis actively contributes to the St. Louis Ag innovation ecosystem, raising awareness and attracting other corporates and startups to the region.
Behind Solis’ Success: BioGenerator’s Role
Solis owes much of its foundation and early growth to BioGenerator’s strategic support. The company’s business plan was conceived by BioGenerator staff, who also recruited an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) to serve as Solis’ founding President. BioGenerator EIRs, David Smoller, PhD, and Martha Schlicher, PhD, are co-founders and serve on the board, providing ongoing guidance.
As the sole source of capital for Solis’ first year, BioGenerator enabled the company to launch operations from the BioGenerator Labs at the Helix Center in the 39N Innovation District. This combination of funding, leadership, mentorship, and infrastructure laid the foundation for Solis’ rapid growth and continued success.
“Our goal is to build Solis into a world-class institution, and this wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of BioGenerator. BioGenerator developed the concept for Solis, provided initial funding, and helped us establish operations at the Helix Center. Not only did BioGenerator play a crucial role in launching Solis, they continue to support us today as we build upon the strong foundation they created for us.”
Susan Martino-Catt, PhD, President & COO, Solis Agrosciences