Checkerspot

Oakland, United States Founded: 2016 • Age: 10 yrs
High-performance materials are developed using synthetic biology for diverse applications.
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About Checkerspot

Checkerspot is a company based in Oakland (United States) founded in 2016 by Scott Franklin.. Checkerspot has raised $116.6 million across 6 funding rounds from investors including United States Department of Agriculture, Plug and Play Tech Center and DIC Global. Checkerspot offers products and services including Culinary Oil. Checkerspot operates in a competitive market with competitors including Amyris, GSK, Inscripta, Avidity Biosciences and Pivot Bio, among others.

  • Headquarter Oakland, United States
  • Founders Scott Franklin
  • Sectors
    Healthcare
    Chemicals & Materials
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
  • Legal Name Checkerspot, Inc.
Operational Areas
Healthcare → Biotechnology, Genomics & Life Sciences Research
Healthcare → Biotechnology, Genomics & Life Sciences Research
Chemicals & Materials → Advanced & Functional Materials
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $116.6 M (USD)

    in 6 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $7.6 M (USD), Series C

    Nov 19, 2025

  • Investors
  • Employee Count
    Employee Count
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Products & Services of Checkerspot

Checkerspot offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including Culinary Oil. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.

Primary

Premium oil made from fermented algae for enhanced taste and stability.

People of Checkerspot
Headcount 10-50
Employee Profiles 2
Board Members and Advisors 5
Employee Profiles
People
Scott Franklin
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer
People
Charles Dimmler
Co-Founder & CEO

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Board Members and Advisors
people
Cain McClary
Board Member
people
David Greenwood
Board Member
people
Walter Solomon
Board Member
people
Julia Moore
Board Member

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Teams

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Funding Insights of Checkerspot

Checkerspot has successfully raised a total of $116.6M across 6 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series C round of $7.6 million completed in November 2025. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 6
  • Last Round Series C — $7.6M
  • First Round

    (01 Jul 2017)

  • Investors Count 13
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Nov, 2025 Amount Series C - Checkerspot Valuation

investors

Sep, 2022 Amount Series C - Checkerspot Valuation ArrowMark Partners
May, 2020 Amount Series B - Checkerspot Valuation Viking Global Investors
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in Checkerspot

Checkerspot has secured backing from 13 investors, including institutional and venture fund investors. Prominent investors backing the company include United States Department of Agriculture, Plug and Play Tech Center and DIC Global. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Investments are made in technologies that modernize industries like agriculture and construction.
Founded Year Domain Location
Early-stage investments in science-driven companies are made.
Founded Year Domain Location
Private investment firm focused on multiple sectors
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by Checkerspot

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016

Financial Statements - Checkerspot

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Checkerspot Comparisons

Employees
+
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Competitors of Checkerspot

Checkerspot operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Amyris, GSK, Inscripta, Avidity Biosciences and Pivot Bio, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Developer of renewable products for industrial solutions
domain founded_year HQ Location
Developer of pharmaceuticals and vaccines for various therapeutic areas
domain founded_year HQ Location
Speech recognition solutions are provided by Inscripta for healthcare professionals.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Antibody-siRNA complexes are developed for cancer treatment.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Nitrogen-fixing microbes for corn crop nutrition are developed and applied.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Gene editing-based cultured ingredients are provided for agriculture.
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Checkerspot

Frequently Asked Questions about Checkerspot

When was Checkerspot founded?

Checkerspot was founded in 2016 and raised its 1st funding round 1 year after it was founded.

Where is Checkerspot located?

Checkerspot is headquartered in Oakland, United States. It is registered at Oakland, California, United States.

Who is the current CEO of Checkerspot?

John Krzywicki is the current CEO of Checkerspot.

Is Checkerspot a funded company?

Checkerspot is a funded company, having raised a total of $116.6M across 6 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Series B of $36M, raised on Jul 01, 2017.

What does Checkerspot do?

Checkerspot was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Oakland, United States, within the biotechnology sector. Advanced biotechnology and chemistry are employed to produce novel materials suited for industrial, medical, and consumer sectors. Genome engineering and synthetic biology techniques are utilized to generate new compounds, which are subsequently processed into materials exhibiting targeted properties for various end uses.

Who are the top competitors of Checkerspot?

Checkerspot's top competitors include Syngenta, Sutro Biopharma and Avidity Biosciences.

What products or services does Checkerspot offer?

Checkerspot offers Culinary Oil.

Who are Checkerspot's investors?
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