Colorado Biofactory was founded by a pair of PhD scientists who find inspiration in the natural world to sustainably solve real world problems. Thaddaus and Michael became friends (and later roommates) in 2011 at Colorado State University during a graduate school class focused on the technology, economics, and policy of bioenergy. Thaddaus went on to specialize in protein engineering and Michael on photosynthetic efficiency. After graduate school, Thaddaus conducted research as a WRF Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Washington Institute for Protein Design. Michael pursued research focusing on algal derived byproducts during his post-doctoral work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO. Our shared passions for regenerative agriculture, soil health, and mushrooms and vision to expand the sustainable biomanufacturing footprint  in Colorado — led us to reunite and launch Colorado Biofactory.