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Colossal Biosciences has raised $200 million in a Series C funding round led by TWG Global, bringing total funding to $435 million and valuing the Dallas-based de-extinction and conservation biotech company at $10.2 billion. The round was announced in January 2025 and positions Colossal Biosciences as the first Texas startup to reach decacorn status — a valuation exceeding $10 billion.
TWG Global Leads $200 Million Series C at a $10.2 Billion Valuation
Colossal Biosciences’ Series C round was led by TWG Global, the investment firm co-founded by Mark Walter and Thomas Tull. Walter serves as CEO of Guggenheim Partners, one of the world’s largest investment management firms, and holds ownership stakes in MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the English Premier League’s Chelsea Football Club. Tull is the former CEO and board chairman of Legendary Entertainment, whose productions under his leadership included Inception, The Dark Knight, The Hangover, 300, and Watchmen. TWG’s investment values Colossal Biosciences at $10.2 billion after $435 million in total funding raised.
“This funding will grow our team, support new technology development, expand our de-extinction species list, while continuing to allow us to carry forth our mission to make extinction a thing of the past.” — Ben Lamm, CEO and Co-Founder, Colossal Biosciences
What Colossal Biosciences Will Use the $200 Million For
Colossal Biosciences stated the new capital will advance its genetic engineering technologies while funding development of new software, wetware, and hardware solutions with applications in de-extinction, species preservation, and human healthcare. CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm said investors “have been bullish in their desire to help us scale as quickly and efficiently as possible,” and confirmed the funding will support team growth, new technology development, and an expanded de-extinction species list. The company operates labs in Dallas, Boston, and Melbourne, and maintains research partnerships with 16 universities worldwide.
Colossal Biosciences’ Active De-Extinction and Conservation Projects
Colossal Biosciences is currently pursuing de-extinction and conservation programs across multiple species. Active projects include the woolly mammoth, targeted for a 2028 milestone; the dodo; the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger); and the dire wolf. The company also supports preservation efforts for critically endangered living species, including the northern white rhinoceros, and has funded research on endangered Australian bird species. Mark Walter of TWG described Colossal as “the leading company working at the intersection of AI, computational biology and genetic engineering for both de-extinction and species preservation.”
Colossal Biosciences’ Full Investor Roster
The Series C adds TWG Global to a diverse investor base that spans entertainment, technology, finance, and exploration. The table below reflects Colossal Biosciences’ full known investor roster as of January 2025.
| Investor / Firm | Notable Background |
|---|---|
| TWG Global (Mark Walter & Thomas Tull) | Lead Series C investor; Walter is CEO of Guggenheim Partners and co-owner of the LA Dodgers and Chelsea FC; Tull is former CEO of Legendary Entertainment |
| Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh | Oscar-winning filmmakers; The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies |
| Jeff Wilke | Former senior executive at Amazon |
| Richard Garriott | Video game pioneer; creator of the Ultima franchise |
| Paul Tudor Jones | Hedge fund manager and philanthropist |
| Robert Nelsen, Ric Edelman, Brandon Fugal | Individual private investors |
| Giammaria Giuliani, Sven-Olof Lindblad, Victor Vescovo | Individual private investors |
| USIT, Animal Capital, Breyer Capital | Institutional investors |
| At One Ventures, In-Q-Tel, BOLD Capital | Institutional investors |
| Peak 6, Draper Associates | Institutional investors |
Frequently Asked Questions About Colossal Biosciences Funding
- How much has Colossal Biosciences raised in total?
- As of January 2025, Colossal Biosciences has raised $435 million in total funding, including a $200 million Series C round led by TWG Global announced in January 2025.
- What is Colossal Biosciences’ valuation?
- The TWG Global-led Series C values Colossal Biosciences at $10.2 billion, making it the first Texas startup to reach decacorn status — a privately held company valued above $10 billion.
- Who led Colossal Biosciences’ Series C?
- TWG Global, co-founded by Mark Walter (CEO of Guggenheim Partners, co-owner of the LA Dodgers and Chelsea FC) and Thomas Tull (former CEO of Legendary Entertainment), led the $200 million Series C round.
- What will Colossal Biosciences use the Series C funding for?
- Colossal Biosciences stated the capital will support team growth, new technology development across software, wetware, and hardware, and expansion of its de-extinction species list, with applications in conservation and human healthcare.
This story is based on original reporting by David Bloom for Forbes. Read the full feature on Forbes →
