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Macro photograph of a scorpion stinger with a drop of venom at the tip.

Insecticides inspired by arachnid venom to outrun resistant pests.

We combine AI-enabled design and biotechnology to develop precise, biodegradable mini-protein insecticides that tackle major agricultural pests.

How it works

Problem

  1. 01

    Resistance keeps moving.

    Pest populations evolved resistance to the insecticides growers rely on. Protecting crops requires new tools that expand the options for effective resistance management.

  2. 02

    A new label is not a new mechanism.

    Different products can act on the same biological target and share vulnerabilities to resistance. Growers need meaningful diversity in modes of action.

  3. 03

    Performance has more than one dimension.

    Crop protection must deliver pest control while meeting demands for worker safety, residue management, and protection of beneficial organisms. These are foundational design constraints for sustainable agriculture.

Solution

Venom, redesigned for the field.

We turn the molecular blueprints of arachnid venom into a new generation of precision insecticides. Combining AI-enabled design, experimental science, and biotechnology, we develop mini-proteins to unlock novel modes of action against major agricultural pests. Potency, selectivity, and biodegradation into amino acids are at the core of our approach.

Arachnid venoms are a rich source of mini-proteins shaped by evolution to act on prey, including insects. We use their molecular structures as starting points, then redesign and test them for the demands of agriculture.

How a candidate is made

Seven steps, from a venom peptide to a molecule that can be made.

  1. 1

    Discover natural blueprints

    We start with arachnid venom mini-proteins that offer promising structures for insecticidal design. Selected scaffolds become the foundation for candidate development.

  2. 2

    Design with AraPred

    AraPred helps us explore and prioritize mini-protein variants around our target performance goals. The output is a focused set of candidates for experimental testing.

  3. 3

    Build the candidates

    Selected designs are synthesized to produce material for initial characterization and testing.

  4. 4

    Test activity and selectivity

    We evaluate candidates in laboratory assays to measure insecticidal activity and investigate selectivity. Results help identify leads and guide the next design cycle.

  5. 5

    Develop recombinant production

    Selected mini-protein designs move into recombinant expression development. We work toward producing correctly folded, active material through a reproducible biological process.

  6. 6

    Validate crop performance

    Laboratory studies evaluate delivery and performance under increasingly relevant exposure conditions. Planned greenhouse and field trials will test how promising formulations translate into crop protection.

  7. 7

    Scale through fermentation

    Promising production processes move toward larger fermentation volumes and downstream recovery. The goal is a manufacturing route that can meet the quality, consistency, and cost requirements of agriculture.

Initial Product

Arakion LEP

Arakion LEP is our first insecticide in development, targeting crop-damaging caterpillars in the order Lepidoptera. It is the first application of a platform built to address additional pest groups and crops. It is not yet commercially available.

Target product profile

  • 0 PHI

    Pre-harvest interval

    A solution for this critical period.

  • MRL exempt

    Maximum residue limit

    A target profile aligned with the residue-management demands of modern food production.

  • 4 hour REI

    Re-entry interval

    Reduced disruption to field operations.

Concept render of a 1 litre bottle of LEP suspension concentrate. Not a commercial product.Concept render of a 1 kilogram pouch of water-dispersible granules labeled LEP, a lepidopteran bioinsecticide. Not a commercial product.Concept render of a 5 litre jug of LEP suspension concentrate. Not a commercial product.

1 L SC · 1 kg WG · 5 L SC

Platform

AraPred

AraPred is Arakion's AI-enabled design platform, built to turn venom-inspired mini-protein structures and experimental feedback into new candidates for targeted pest control.

Order

Pest

Initial product

Fall armyworm

Lepidoptera. Moths and caterpillars. The first order in development.

A caterpillar that moves across grasses and broadleaf crops and has a long record of resistance.

Crops

  • Maize
  • Sorghum
  • Rice

Team

The people who build it.

Four founders, across biology, the design platform, the lab, and the business.

Backed by GridX

Team background

  • Instituto de Biotecnología
  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Applied Biotec
  • Universidad Nacional de Rosario
  • AB InBev
  • Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
  • SUNBOR, student organization for neuroscience research and outreach
  • Oklahoma State University

FAQ

Questions partners actually ask.

  1. 01

    What is Arakion?

    Arakion is a biotechnology company developing a new generation of insecticides inspired by arachnid venom. We combine AI-enabled design, experimental science, and biotechnology to create precise, biodegradable mini-proteins for crop protection. Our first program targets Lepidoptera, establishing the foundation for a broader platform addressing major agricultural pests.

  2. 02

    What is a mini-protein bioinsecticide?

    A mini-protein bioinsecticide uses a small protein as its active ingredient to control insect pests. Mini-proteins are built from amino acids and fold into defined structures that enable their biological activity. At Arakion, we design candidates based on mini-protein structures found in arachnid venoms and test how they act on target pests. Our goal is to turn these molecular starting points into effective, selective products that can be manufactured through biotechnology.

  3. 03

    Why start from arachnid venom?

    Arachnid venoms contain mini-proteins shaped by evolution to act on prey, including insects. That makes them valuable starting points for discovering new insecticidal molecules. Arakion builds on these structures through molecular design and experimental testing, developing defined mini-protein candidates for agricultural use. Recombinant production offers a path to manufacturing these molecules without relying on venom extraction at commercial scale.

  4. 04

    What does AraPred do?

    AraPred combines computational design and experimental feedback to identify and optimize insecticidal mini-proteins. It connects successive rounds of molecular design and laboratory testing, using each round of results to guide the next. This iterative workflow drives the development of new active ingredients for targeted pest control.

  5. 05

    Who are you looking to work with?

    We work toward a future in which growers have more effective options against resistant pests, and we are looking for partners to help build it. We welcome crop protection companies interested in candidate evaluation, co-development, licensing, and commercialization; research and manufacturing partners with complementary capabilities; and investors who share our ambition for the next generation of agriculture.

  6. 06

    How do we start a conversation?

    Tell us what you are working on and where you see an opportunity to collaborate. Use the contact form to share your organization, relevant pests or crops, markets, or technical capabilities. We will explore the fit and agree on the right next step, including confidentiality arrangements when needed.

Contact

Tell us what you are working on.