Scentian Bio, a biosensor startup that claims to have blended nature and technology by leveraging the olfactory capabilities of insects to develop a powerful new sensory tool, announced a $2.1 million seed funding today according to a release sent to The Spoon. The company’s new investors, which include Finistere Ventures and Toyota Ventures, will join the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing their total backing up to $4.4 million.
Scentian says their technology relies on virtualizing insect olfactory receptors (iOR), using AI to process and interpret signals from its biosensors to replicate an insect’s neuronal network to interpret smells. According to Scentian, their sensors are a thousand times more sensitive than a dog’s nose and have dozens of unique receptors that effectively recognize millions of virtual organic compounds or VOCs.
The company says they’ve been running a trial with a large unnamed food brand, and based on its early success in this trial, the company plans to focus on quality control for the food industry initially. This company’s first digital biosensor, which is expected to launch commercially at the end of 2024, will provide quality control of key food ingredients’ smell and taste attributes. The company will focus on essential oils and expand later to other ingredients.
The pitch is compelling, but the company doesn’t explain precisely how their technology replicates insect smell detection. It says they combine “insect smell receptors” with sensing surfaces that create “the most sensitive digital fingerprint for smell.” It sounds good, but I have to wonder if it’s just a colorful way to describe a really powerful electronic nose.