RETRN Bio, a Syracuse-based startup that upcycles plant waste materials into food packaging plastics, raised $1.3 million in grant funding from sources that included USDA/NIFA, NSF STTR, FuzeHub, V4C Climate Tech, and others. Founder Dr. Chris Thomas, a SUNY ESF post doc working with Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad, is currently working with investors on closing a $1 million pre-seed round. RETRN Bio is currently operating out of the Cornell Center for Life Science Ventures while continuing to work with Syracuse University and SUNY ESF. Five patents have been secured for proprietary technology, exclusive to RETRN Bio.
