Danforth Center Spinout Benson Hill Goes Public: Valued at $1.35B, Only the Second “Unicorn” in St. Louis
They are called “unicorns” because they are rarely seen. In Silicon Valley slang, a “unicorn” is a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion. St. Louis witnessed its first two unicorns in rapid succession this September: Nerdy, then Benson Hill.
Benson Hill, Inc., a food technology company co-founded by Danforth Center Principal Investigator Todd Mockler, PhD, went public in late September. After merging with Star Peak Corp. II, a special-purpose acquisition company, in a deal that offered a pre-money valuation of $1.35 billion, Benson Hill began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbols "BHIL" and "BHIL.WS."
We caught up with Dr. Mockler for some questions on his way to New York in early October to ring the bell:
On October 5th, Benson Hill co-founders, CEO Matt Crisp and Danforth Center Principal Investigator Todd Mockler, rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange.
How do you feel about the fact that Benson Hill just went public as a “unicorn,” only the second unicorn in St. Louis?
“We knew this direction held so much potential, so it’s a great validation. I could not be prouder of everything Matt and the Benson Hill team have accomplished. Benson Hill is using Big Data and AI to help make agriculture more sustainable. This is a win for St. Louis and for the planet.”
When did you first realize Benson Hill was going to be big? How did your work at the Danforth Center prepare you to spinout a company?
“We knew the idea to apply genomics and data science to agtech was big, even back in 2012, but we had to move quickly. The Danforth Center actively encourages the acceleration of big ideas into the marketplace. I don’t know if we would have succeeded to this level without the Danforth Center’s culture of innovation.”
You caught lightning once. Do you see another startup in your future?
“I am currently working on a new startup called Lone Wolf Genetics. We’re applying some of the same technologies and approaches—genome analysis, predictive breeding, gene editing, high-throughput phenotyping—all driven or enabled by AI—to cannabis, including industrial hemp.”
Benson Hill co-founders, Danforth Center Principal Investigator Todd Mockler and CEO Matt Crisp, outside the New York Stock Exchange this October.
Benson Hill Timeline
- 2012 – Co-founded by Todd Mockler (Danforth Center) and Matt Crisp
- 2018 – Obtains series C financing from Google Ventures (GV), first in St. Louis
- 2019 – Names St. Louis as HQ, breaks ground on new building 2020 – Opens EDGE@BRDG on Danforth Center campus
- 2021 – Goes public with a pre-money valuation of $1.35B, only the second “unicorn” in St. Louis
Benson Hill, co-founded by a Danforth Center scientist, has its world headquarters in the new EDGE@BRDG building on the Danforth Center campus.
Ingredients are key for plant-based meat alternatives… Benson Hill expects last year’s sales of about $100 million to surge.
Wall Street Journal , May 9, 2021
Why It Matters
Through best-in-class infrastructure and talent, the Danforth Center helps attract businesses from around the world to our region, while providing local startups access to the latest technology to speed them on their way. That's why the Brookings Institution named the Danforth Center the "hub of agtech innovation." We are an anchor in the 39 North innovation district, growing opportunities for today and future generations, to feed the world and heal the planet. Join us.