India’s biotechnology sector is rapidly evolving, with startups pushing the boundaries of scientific innovation and sustainable solutions. Among them is Genexis Biotech, a deep-tech startup focused on advanced fermentation technologies and recombinant protein production.
Founded by Vipul Kumar along with Dr. Jitendra Wagh, Genexis Biotech is working to transform how specialized proteins are produced using cutting-edge biotechnology platforms.
In this interview with Indian Startup Times, Vipul Kumar, Founder of Genexis Biotech, shares his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of building a biotech startup, breakthroughs in protein production technology, and his vision for making India a global hub for sustainable biotech innovation.
From Biotechnology Research to Entrepreneurship
Vipul Kumar’s journey into entrepreneurship began with a strong academic and professional foundation in biotechnology. After completing his studies in the field, he spent over 15 years working across various biotech organizations, gaining hands-on experience in research, production, and commercialization.
Before launching Genexis Biotech, Vipul worked with multiple biotech companies, including a contract research organization and leading industry players like Biocon. These experiences helped him understand the operational challenges and market gaps in the biotechnology ecosystem.
“The idea for Genexis Biotech started taking shape around 2018,” Vipul recalls. “We spent significant time researching the market, understanding demand for certain proteins, and evaluating technological possibilities before officially starting the company in October 2019.”
This careful planning phase laid the foundation for building a technology-driven biotech startup capable of addressing global supply chain gaps in protein production.
Navigating the Challenges of Building a Biotech Startup
Launching a biotech startup comes with a unique set of challenges, particularly due to the capital-intensive nature of the industry. Unlike many digital startups, biotech companies require sophisticated laboratories, specialized equipment, and highly skilled teams.
“Biotechnology is not an easy space to enter,” Vipul explains. “It requires heavy investment in infrastructure, advanced equipment, and continuous R&D.”
In the early stages, Vipul funded the company using personal savings while gradually building capabilities through small projects and revenue generation. This approach allowed Genexis Biotech to establish its initial infrastructure without relying entirely on external funding.
One unexpected turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company developed and supplied specific proteins to government laboratories involved in pandemic-related research. This created a quick revenue stream and allowed the team to expand its infrastructure.
“That phase helped us accelerate our growth and strengthen our technical capabilities,” Vipul says.
Building a High-Efficiency Protein Production Platform
At the core of Genexis Biotech’s innovation is precision fermentation, a process that enables the production of proteins using living microorganisms.
Through advanced strain engineering, proteins can be produced within microbes such as yeast, bacteria, or cell cultures. These microbes act as biological factories, generating proteins that are then extracted and purified through downstream processing.
Vipul explains that Genexis Biotech has developed a robust platform technology capable of producing multiple recombinant proteins.
“So far, we have worked on more than 15 to 20 proteins across different platforms,” he shares. “Our focus has been on optimizing both the fermentation and downstream purification processes.”
The company’s fermentation system delivers protein yields nearly 20 times higher than traditional industry benchmarks, significantly improving efficiency and scalability.
Equally important is the downstream purification process, which ensures that the final proteins meet high quality and purity standards required for research and pharmaceutical applications.
Combining Market Research with Scientific Innovation
A key differentiator for Genexis Biotech is its market-driven innovation approach.
Rather than focusing purely on research, the team identifies proteins that have strong commercial demand and ethical value. These insights guide their development pipeline.
“We start with platform technologies and then evaluate which proteins have strong market demand,” Vipul explains. “At the same time, we look at sustainability and ethical considerations.”
Using multiple biological platforms—including yeast, bacteria, and cell culture—the company achieves a success rate of nearly 60–70% in protein development projects.
This balanced strategy enables Genexis Biotech to develop commercially viable solutions while maintaining strong scientific innovation.
Managing Complex Regulatory Environments
Operating in biotechnology requires navigating complex regulatory frameworks across multiple markets.
Vipul emphasizes that compliance with regulatory standards such as FDA guidelines, ISO certifications, and GMP requirements is critical for long-term success.
Genexis Biotech follows a multi-tiered market strategy:
- Research Use Only (RUO) proteins
- GMP-grade materials for pharmaceuticals
- Regulatory-approved proteins for global markets
This diversified approach allows the company to generate revenue in the short term while simultaneously preparing for more stringent regulatory approvals required for pharmaceutical applications.
Addressing Supply Chain Gaps in Protein Production
One of the biggest opportunities Vipul identified in the biotech sector is the global supply gap for specialized proteins.
Many of these proteins are currently imported into India at high costs, creating delays and inefficiencies for research institutions and pharmaceutical companies.
“Our goal is to localize production of these proteins,” Vipul says. “By manufacturing them in India, we can significantly reduce costs and improve accessibility.”
The demand for these materials is rapidly increasing across biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, diagnostics, and drug discovery.
Genexis Biotech aims to become a reliable domestic supplier while also building export capabilities for international markets.
Funding the Journey
Like many deep-tech startups, Genexis Biotech’s funding journey required patience, technological validation, and strong investor alignment. The company has successfully raised $457K+ in Seed funding, supporting its early-stage growth and technology development.
One of the early supporters of the company was Indigram Labs Foundation, which helped introduce Genexis Biotech to deep-tech investors and strengthened its growth roadmap.
Vipul explains that convincing investors in the biotechnology sector requires demonstrating both scientific innovation and commercial viability.
“In biotech, investors want to see proof of technology along with revenue potential,” he says. “Our ability to generate revenue from the early stages helped build investor confidence.”
With a growing product pipeline and expanding market opportunities, the company is now preparing for its next phase of fundraising to further scale operations and strengthen its infrastructure.
Scaling with GMP Infrastructure
Looking ahead, Genexis Biotech plans to scale its operations by developing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities.
These facilities will enable the company to manufacture pharmaceutical-grade proteins at larger volumes while meeting global regulatory standards.
Building such infrastructure requires significant capital investment, but it will position the company to enter high-value markets such as biologics and therapeutic proteins.
“The next phase for us is scaling production and expanding our product pipeline,” Vipul says.
India’s Opportunity to Become a Global Biotech Hub
Vipul believes India is well positioned to become a global leader in biotechnology.
The country already has strong expertise in fermentation technology, pharmaceuticals, and bio-manufacturing, supported by a large pool of scientific talent.
Government initiatives supporting biotechnology innovation are also creating favorable conditions for startups and deep-tech companies.
“With India’s growing consumer base and research ecosystem, the country has the potential to become a major biotech hub,” Vipul says.
The Vision: Replacing Animal-Sourced Proteins
The long-term vision for Genexis Biotech goes beyond protein production. The company aims to develop animal-free recombinant proteins that can replace traditional animal-derived materials across multiple industries.
These proteins could be used in:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food and alternative proteins
- Cosmetics and personal care
- Biotechnology research
By producing proteins through microbial fermentation rather than animal sources, the technology offers a more sustainable, scalable, and ethical solution.
“Our goal is to create high-quality proteins that can replace animal-derived materials,” Vipul explains. “This will help address both sustainability challenges and global supply limitations.”
Looking Ahead
As Genexis Biotech continues to expand its technology platform and product portfolio, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s deep-tech biotechnology revolution.
With advanced fermentation capabilities, a growing protein pipeline, and plans for GMP-grade manufacturing, the startup aims to become a leading producer of recombinant proteins from India.
For Vipul Kumar, the mission is clear: build a globally competitive biotech company while contributing to a more sustainable and innovative life sciences ecosystem.
Interview Conducted by : Arushi Agarwal
