Qkine raises £535k to scale production of high-purity proteins

High-purity recombinant proteins and growth factors are manufactured by Qkine Limited to support the development of stem cell, organoid, and regenerative medicine applications. Based in Cambridge, the company supplies animal-free bioactive proteins used by research institutions and pharmaceutical firms globally.

The biotechnology firm recently secured £535.2k in funding, resulting in an estimated post-money valuation of £11.8m. This latest investment follows a smaller capital injection of £44.7k raised during 2025.

Founded in 2016, the business utilizes proprietary engineering technology developed in the laboratory of Dr Marko Hyvönen at the University of Cambridge. Its facility operates under ISO 9001:2015 standards to address scalability challenges in emerging fields like 3D cell culture and cultured meat.

Financial records for the year ended 31 March 2025 show a loss of £1.4m. The company employs 33 people according to its latest accounts, though recent social media data indicates a headcount of 35. The funding round was documented in June following an allotment of shares in April.