SynMeta
贻如生物
SynMeta (贻如生物 / SynMetabio / SynBioRay) is a Chinese synthetic-biology startup founded by Rui Su, an iGEM competition alumnus who previously explored various biotech directions before settling on bio-based leather applications with Linear Capital's backing . Linear Capital led the company's angel round in March 2023 and followed on in a Pre-A round in April 2024, with proceeds directed toward building a three-phase factory in Changzhou and scaling production of its 100% bio-based leather . As of 2024 the company was hiring synthetic-biology R&D talent, materials-formulation teams, and a fermentation-factory lead to support commercial delivery . In 2026, Linear featured Su in a panel on AI for science, positioning SynMeta as an example of using AI to compress trial-and-error costs and build data flywheels in industrial biotech .
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Coverage
AI4S Doesn't Lack Stories; It Lacks Real Commercial Value | Linear Voice
"Discovery" is often not the hardest part.
After the Start of Summer, Growing Without Reserve | Linear Quarterly
Abundant sunshine, lush growth.
Spring has arrived — can blossoms be far behind? | Linear Quarterly
Rather than waiting for spring, define it.
"YiRu Bio" Partners with ANTA — ANTAZERO Designer Collaboration Now Available Nationwide | Linear Portfolio
First in the world to achieve large-scale production of low-carbon bio-based leather.
Linear Voice: 2025 in the Linear Capital Network
Those real and important moments.
Linear Capital's Yingzhe Zeng: Early-Stage Investing Isn't a Great Business Model — So Why Do We Keep at It? | Linear View
Knowing full well the path ahead was strewn with thorns, they still ran barefoot alongside the founders.
Taking Gems From Fire — Linear Capital's 2024 Year in Review
2024 is coming to a close. I'd like to borrow the theme from our annual meeting in October to summarize this year: *Taking Gems From Fire* — a fitting description of Linear Capital's work this past year.
Linear Capital | Linear Path, Nonlinear Growth
Striving to become China's best frontier tech and innovation fund.
Linear Capital's angel-round lead investment project, *SynMetabio*, has raised tens of millions of RMB in a Pre-A round, with existing investor Linear Capital continuing to double down as a follow-on investor.
The cost of bio-based leather manufacturing has dropped sharply, and a commercial inflection point could arrive next year, with tens of millions of yuan in revenue.
"贻如生物" Su Rui: How the World's First Continuously Produced 100% Bio-based Leather Was Achieved | Linear Capital Portfolio Interview Series
Today, SynMetabio, a Linear Capital seed-round lead portfolio company, announced it has raised tens of millions of RMB in a Pre-A round. One year after announcing its seed round from Linear Capital in April 2023, SynMetabio has made significant progress, **including optimizing its entire production process, substantially reducing manufacturing costs, and achieving cost advantages for bio-based materials in most application scenarios.** Next, SynMetabio will build a factory in Changzhou to scale up mass production of its synthetic leather.
Linear Capital | Linear Path, Nonlinear Growth
Striving to become China's best frontier technology and innovation fund.
Linear Capital's 2023 Retrospective: Moving Forward Through Challenges
In September 2023, [when summarizing Linear Capital's ninth anniversary, we wrote this line: the goal lies far ahead, the road remains difficult, but there is light in our hearts](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzAwNTAyMDAyNQ==&mid=2652305248&idx=1&sn=eb922534db0722f5ef06117e
Linear Capital Portfolio Company | SynMetabio Signs Exclusive Strategic Partnership with Dole
On November 6, 2023, at the sixth China International Import Expo, Dole and SynMetabio — a Linear Capital portfolio company — formally signed a significant **exclusive strategic partnership agreement**, marking the beginning of their collaboration.
Synthetic biology startup **SynBioRay** (贻如生物) has raised tens of millions of RMB in funding, with **Linear Capital** leading the angel round.
Using synthetic biotechnology to cultivate 100% bio-based leather.
