Jacob Nathan Biography: Founder & CEO of Epoch Biodesign
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Introduction
Jacob Nathan, visionary entrepreneur and founder of Epoch Biodesign, is transforming the way we approach plastic waste. Since launching the company as a high school project in 2019, Jacob has pioneered AI-driven enzyme technology that converts hard-to-recycle plastics into valuable, low-carbon chemicals. His leadership has guided Epoch toward becoming a leader in sustainable biorecycling. In this biography, we explore his journey, achievements, and impact on the circular economy.
His journey is similar to other successful founders like Ben Francis Biography.
Table of Contents
1. Early Life & Origin Story
2. Education & Pivot to Entrepreneurship
3. Founding Epoch Biodesign
- High School Innovation
- Partnership with Douglas Kell, CBE
4. Company Mission & Technology
- AI-Powered Enzyme Engineering
- Biorecycling at Room Temperature
5. Growth & Funding Milestones
6. Leadership Style & Industry Influence
7. Impact & Partnerships
8. Lessons from Jacob Nathan’s Journey
9. Conclusion & Call to Action
10. FAQs
Early Life & Origin Story
Jacob Nathan discovered his passion for sustainability and biology early on. While in high school, he embarked on a science project exploring how microbes could break down plastic—an experiment that laid the foundation for Epoch Biodesign . His drive to challenge the status quo and create real-world solutions set him on an extraordinary path.
Education & Pivot to Entrepreneurship
Despite securing a place at the University of Chicago to study biochemistry and economics, Jacob chose to forgo college to dedicate himself fully to his venture . This bold decision reflects his confidence and commitment to building something impactful from the ground up.
Founding Epoch Biodesign
High School Innovation
Inspired by his project, Jacob co-founded Epoch Biodesign in 2019 with Professor Douglas Kell, CBE, a renowned systems and synthetic biologist . What began as a science experiment evolved swiftly into a mission-led startup.
Epoch Biodesign raised $18.3 million in Series A funding, according to Tech.eu.
Partnership with Douglas Kell, CBE
Collaborating with Professor Kell provided the scientific rigor and mentorship needed to transform an idea into a biotech enterprise capable of revolutionizing recycling.
Company Mission & Technology
AI-Powered Enzyme Engineering
Epoch combines AI, robotic automation, and synthetic biology to engineer high-performance enzymes—termed “supercharged enzymes”—that break down plastics under ambient conditions, mimicking natural decomposition . This innovation drastically reduces energy use and eliminates toxic chemicals in the recycling process.
Biorecycling at Room Temperature
Unlike expensive chemical recycling or inefficient mechanical methods, Epoch’s enzymatic process not only works at room temperature but also maintains material quality, producing recycled chemicals that rival virgin feedstocks in performance and price .
Growth & Funding Milestones
Epoch’s vision attracted significant investment through several rounds:
- Series A (Mar 2025) : Raised $18.3 million in funding, including a $1 million grant from the UK government; featured investment from Extantia Capital (lead), Inditex, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Kibo Invest, Day One Ventures, and others .
- The company has now raised over $34 million in total .
- Funds are being used to build its first commercial-scale production plant, expand its enzyme library, and scale up operations beginning in 2025, with aims to process tens of thousands of tonnes of waste by 2028 .
Leadership Style & Industry Influence
Jacob’s leadership is visionary, tech-forward, and mission-driven. He leads by example—fusing AI, biology, and sustainability—and has built a multidisciplinary team of 30+ scientists and engineers in London to drive innovation and scale .
Impact & Partnerships
Epoch’s technology has unlocked strategic partnerships across diverse industries:
- Inditex signed a multi-year joint development agreement to ensure the technology meets high fashion performance standards .
- The company has forged 40+ partnerships across apparel, automotive, luxury fashion, technical textiles, and chemicals .
- Their process addresses global legislative pressures, such as California’s recycling mandates, while enabling circularity at scale .
Fashion giant Inditex partnered with Epoch Biodesign to explore sustainable recycling solutions FashionUnited.
Lessons from Jacob Nathan’s Journey
- Start early & stay curious: An impactful idea can spark at any age.
- Bold decisions pay off : Leaving college to pursue a mission is courageous and transformative.
- Bridge disciplines: Jacob’s blend of AI, biology, and sustainability exemplifies modern scientific entrepreneurship.
- Scale with purpose: Focus on environmental impact and industry transformation, not just profit.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Jacob Nathan’s journey—from a high school project to leading a biotech startup transforming the waste economy—is a testament to innovation, leadership, and environmental impact. Epoch Biodesign exemplifies how entrepreneurship can solve global challenges.
👉 Inspired? Explore more stories on sustainable innovation, like our case study on Circle Economy or next-gen biotech breakthroughs, or subscribe to follow the latest in circular economy leadership.
👉 If Jacob Nathan’s story inspired you, check out more entrepreneurial journeys on Victoryicons.
FAQs
Q1. Who is Jacob Nathan?
Jacob Nathan is the founder & CEO of Epoch Biodesign, a London-based synthetic biology company focused on enzymatic plastic recycling .
Q2. What does Epoch Biodesign do?
They engineer AI-driven enzymes to convert unrecyclable plastics into high-value chemicals at room temperature, enabling scalable biorecycling .
Q3. When was Epoch Biodesign founded?
Epoch was founded in 2019, born from Jacob’s high school science project .
Q4. How much funding has Epoch raised?
Epoch raised $18.3 million in Series A (March 2025), plus a $1 million UK government grant, totaling over $34 million in funding .
