Johan Kers

Listen up, here’s the deal with Johan Kers – this guy is the real deal in biotech and sustainability. So, he’s a YC S22 alum, which already says a lot – YC doesn’t just throw anyone in there. He’s got a legit background, having worked at some heavy hitters like Ginkgo Bioworks, Absci, Joyn Bio, and Intrexon. Basically, he’s been deep in the biotech scene, tinkering with bacteria, genetic circuits, and all that science-y stuff for over a decade.

But what really sets him apart is what he’s doing now. Johan’s the co-founder and CEO of Birch Biosciences, a startup that’s all about tackling plastic waste – yeah, that mountain of trash we all hate. They’re using engineered enzymes and synthetic biology to actually recycle plastics like PET and polyurethane at an industrial scale. Think about it – turning plastic trash into something useful again, all with biotech magic. It’s not just some pie-in-the-sky idea; Birch has backing from YC, the US Department of Energy, and NSF. That’s some serious validation.

Before Birch, Johan was CTO at Absci, working on synthetic biology stuff. That’s basically building biological systems from scratch – super complex, super original. The guy’s been programming bacteria, designing genetic circuits, pushing the boundaries of biotech. He’s not just talking; he’s building the tools to make real change happen.

What’s cool is how his process shows what he’s really about – pushing the envelope, solving big problems, and not being afraid to jump into the messy, hard stuff. His background tells me he’s driven by a mix of curiosity and a desire to make a difference. He sees the possible of biotech to fix big-world problems, like plastics pollution, and he’s not waiting around. He jumped into this space because he believes in the power of science to create a circular economy for plastics – which is honestly a big change.

So, long story short – Johan Kers is this badass biotech guy who’s not just resting on his laurels. He’s out here reinventing how we deal with plastic waste, using all the latest biotech tricks he’s mastered over the years. The kind of guy who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in the lab or tackle some of the biggest environmental problems we face. That’s why he’s so important – because he’s turning science into action, and that’s what we need more of.