Startups
Caravel Bio
Caravel Bio is a Portland, Oregon synthetic-biology company developing an integrated platform for protein discovery, engineering and delivery. It combines cell-free protein synthesis, bacterial spore display and high-throughput directed evolution to create robust industrial proteins and machine-learning training datasets. Research applications include enzyme-based carbon capture, biochemical manufacturing, DNA synthesis and animal health. Founder and CEO Trevor Nicks developed the underlying technology in research at Tufts University; its current official roster includes nine named team members. In October 2025, Caravel announced a $1.9 million pre-seed round from 2048 Ventures, The Venture Collective, Pioneer Fund and Portland Seed Fund, alongside an NSF CFIRE PRESENT award with an estimated total of $7.8 million supporting a collaborative project led by Caravel. Federal records distinguish that estimated award ceiling from $5,521,174 obligated as of the reviewed record. It also received a $275,000 NSF SBIR Phase I grant and a 2026 Phase II award estimated at $1,246,984, of which $311,746 was initially obligated. Caravel joined Shell GameChanger in July 2025 and disclosed funding for carbon-capture research in May 2026, with the amount undisclosed. Research collaborators and program participants are not automatically company employees or equity investors.
Team
 Agneya BhushanCINO |
 Aidan HaneyBiotechnology Engineer I |
 Arushi KaliaSenior Engineering Research Associate |
 Dana MerrickFounding Infrastructure Engineer |
 Emily BowmanCSO |
 Georgia NeedhamBiotechnologist |
 Rick SaylerHead of BioInorganic Engineering |
 Trevor NicksFOUNDER & CEO |
