Durham-based Sennos has raised $15 million in funding to revolutionize fermentation processes with artificial intelligence. The investment round, led by Stockholm-based TomEnterprise, will fuel the company's expansion from brewing into broader biomanufacturing applications.
Founded in 2017 and formerly known as Precision Fermentation, the North Carolina startup is transforming traditional fermentation with high-tech innovations. Sennos converts standard fermentation vats into intelligent, self-optimizing systems, bringing precision, speed, and scalability to one of humanity's oldest production methods. The company harnesses AI to replace guesswork with data-driven control, changing how everything from beer to biofuels is produced.
At the core of Sennos' approach is what they call a "digital nervous system" installed in fermentation tanks. Their flagship platform, BrewIQ, collects thousands of real-time data points during each batch—tracking variables like sugar conversion, temperature, pressure, and pH levels—and feeds this information to an AI engine trained to detect patterns, flag anomalies, and predict outcomes. The system uses artificial intelligence to forecast fermentation completion, detect anomalies, and recommend interventions before they impact product quality.
While Sennos began with beer production, its technology has far broader applications. Fermentation is used across biotech, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, chemicals, and alternative protein production. Wherever microbes convert one substance into another, there's a role for intelligent control, and Sennos is positioning itself as the go-to operating system for that microbial economy.
"The new funding will help us scale rapidly within the brewing and beverage industry by building out our go-to-market team and meeting growing customer demand," Sennos told tech media. "At the same time, we're investing heavily in R&D to extend our platform's capabilities—both within our core markets and into new sectors that rely on fermentation in manufacturing, such as alternative proteins, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and biomanufacturing. By 2026, our goal is to support every stage of fluid and fermentation production. The modular M3 system will continue to grow, with new sensors that easily integrate into existing setups, unlocking more value not only in fermentation but throughout the entire production process."
With its industry-leading platform, unmatched data assets, and new financial backing, Sennos is poised to redefine how fermentation-based industries operate. By transforming complex biological processes into predictable, efficient systems, the company isn't just helping brewers produce better beer—it's laying the foundation for smarter, more sustainable production across food, fuel, and pharmaceuticals.