British AgriTech Startup Antler Bio Raises €3.6 Million Funding

The round was led by The First Thirty Ventures, a VC focused on early-stage agtech with health outcomes. Other participants included Endgame Capital and regenerative agriculture angel syndicate Generation-RE.

With this new funding, Antler Bio has raised a total of €7.2 million, including grants.

Maria Jensen, CEO & Co-Founder of Antler Bio, said: “Bringing a technology like EpiHerd to an industry that has never seen anything quite like it is no small task, but we’re incredibly excited about the future. This investment will enable us to scale EpiHerd to thousands of farms across Europe, grow our team, and continue refining the technology to meet the evolving needs of farmers, benefiting their profits but, importantly, the wellbeing of their animals.”

EpiHerd helps farmers understand how cows’ genes respond to stress, nutrition, and health challenges. This insight enables better decisions to boost milk yield, improve animal health, and increase fertility and resilience.

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Jensen, a Finnish entrepreneur, previously sold a genetics company focused on elite racehorses. Conte brings over 25 years of experience in cancer genetics and bioinformatics, applying human health techniques to animal farming.

Antler Bio works with 100+ farms across the UK, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, showing strong results—up to 22% more milk, 6% higher milk fat, and 5% more milk protein.

Their approach delivers more nutritious milk and healthier cows, helping farmers earn better returns, with an average ROI of over 7:1.

Naeem Lakhani, Managing Partner at The First Thirty, added: “At The First Thirty, our AgriHealth Investment Strategy backs world-class companies creating value where agriculture meets human health. Antler Bio is a great example, combining biology and technology to help reshape the global food system. Their work supports animal welfare, enhances farm efficiency, and leads to improved nutrition for consumers. As a company at the forefront of this change, we’re proud to support their journey.”

Between April 2023 and April 2024, more than 440 UK dairy farms shut down due to low milk prices, rising input costs, and increasing regulatory pressure. In the US, changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order will soon shift incentives from quantity to quality, while EU milk production is expected to fall to 149.4 million metric tons by 2025. Globally, farmers are being pushed to achieve more with fewer resources.

Antler Bio offers a timely solution—helping farmers extract more value from their current herds by uncovering hidden performance barriers and improving overall herd health and wellbeing.

About Antler Bio

Founded in 2020 by CEO Maria Jensen and CSO Nathalie Conte, Antler Bio is an AgriTech company using gene expression technology to improve dairy farming through its EpiHerd platform.