| In a recent LinkedIn post, The Trendlines Group shared a photo of its team in an office -- not a typical corporate celebration but a powerful message about the reality of working in a conflict zone. The caption noted that while sirens for incoming missiles send the team to safe rooms, they return to their desks and labs because "medical devices need to be produced" and "cell-cultured cocoa can't wait". For this Singapore-listed, Israel-headquartered investment group, the mission of global food security and medtech innovation doesn't pause for war.  Trendlines Group CEO Haim Brosh (white shirt) is seated in the centre. |
This stoic professionalism comes at a time when Trendlines' stock has faced selling pressure after the outbreak of the Iran war.
The sell-down (from a high of 8 cents early this year to just above 5 cents recently) overlooks the underlying strength and value of the company’s portfolio.
While the war might slow down the administrative and due diligence processes required for corporate exits, the intrinsic value of the start-ups' innovations continues to grow behind the lab doors.
A Breakthrough in Bioinsecticides
On LinkedIn, one can see there has been a steady flow of progress from Trendlines’ portfolio companies.
The latest breakthrough: On March 12, Trendlines announced that IBI Ag successfully completed a Proof of Concept for its AI-driven platform designed to create de novo proteins for bioinsecticides.
The Proof of Concept included the design of new proteins that were successfully validated in insect bioassays, demonstrating their efficacy against key agricultural pests, according to Trendlines.
The implications for the future of farming are massive.
Traditionally, farmers use broad-spectrum chemicals that can harm "good" insects like bees or leave residues in the environment.
Said Arnon Heyman, CEO of IBI Ag: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever de novo protein design platform for bioinsecticides.
"It is designed to leverage the company’s proprietary IP for targets in insect control. This allows us to discover and validate new proteins based on vast amounts of data which we believe is a game-changer in the industry.
IBI Ag’s achievement underscores the significant market potential within the Trendlines portfolio. |
→ See also: TRENDLINES: Fresh Capital, Including Lion Global's, Pours In Amid Efforts To Achieve Portfolio Windfalls