What is Cradle?
Machine-learning software for protein design and engineering teams.
- Category
- Protein engineering AI
- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Founded
- 2021
- Employees
- Private; Amsterdam and Zurich teams
- Total funding
- About $103 million disclosed
- Status
- Private
What is Cradle?
Cradle is a protein engineering ai company headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Cradle provides generative AI software that helps biotech and pharma teams design proteins with desired properties such as stability, expression, and binding. The company reports pharma and biotech customers using its platform for protein-engineering campaigns; customer names are selectively disclosed.
The company was founded in 2021 and remains private. Its public profile is strongest around Protein design platform and Sequence generation, while detailed revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
As of June 2026, the safest public read is that Cradle is scaling through enterprise partnerships and capital-intensive product development rather than a self-serve consumer motion.
What does Cradle offer?
Cradle's public product set centers on Protein design platform, Sequence generation, Wet-lab feedback workflows.
- Protein design platform· AI biology
- Sequence generation· Protein engineering
- Wet-lab feedback workflows· R&D
- Enterprise collaboration tools· Software
Sources:Cradle website
How does Cradle make money?
Enterprise SaaS and R&D collaboration model; public pricing is not disclosed.
Enterprise SaaS and R&D collaboration model; public pricing is not disclosed. No public list pricing; sold to biotech and pharma teams.
Growth is driven by enterprise adoption, strategic partnerships, and proof that the platform can deliver measurable operational, clinical, scientific, or mission outcomes. Because Cradle does not publish standard list prices, buyers should treat budget sizing as a custom-contract exercise.
The commercial motion therefore depends on executive sponsorship, security and compliance review, and evidence that the product can integrate into existing workflows rather than replace them all at once.
Who leads Cradle?
Cradle is led by Stef van Grieken, Co-founder and CEO.
- Stef van GriekenCo-founder and CEOCo-founder · since 2021Former Google product leader focused on protein design software.
- Jelle PrinsCo-founderCo-founderProduct and engineering co-founder.
- Elise de ReusCo-founderCo-founderBiology and operations co-founder.
- Eli BixbyCo-founderCo-founderScientific co-founder.
How do you contact Cradle's leadership?
Public contact form; no verified personal email pattern found. Use the listed public company route rather than guessed personal inboxes.
Public contact form; no verified personal email pattern foundSources:Cradle website
How much funding has Cradle raised?
Cradle has about $103 million disclosed and is private.
2022: Seed — €5.5 million, led/backed by Index Ventures. 2023: Series A — $24 million, led/backed by Index Ventures. 2024: Series B — $73 million, led/backed by IVP (Valuation undisclosed).
The latest public valuation/status marker is Undisclosed. Where a valuation is undisclosed, public reporting only supports the financing amount and participating investors.
Funding is best interpreted as capacity for product build-out, hiring, regulatory or deployment work, and longer sales cycles; it should not be read as proof of profitability unless the company has separately disclosed profitability.
How did Cradle get here?
Cradle's timeline runs from its 2021 founding through major financing and product milestones.
- 2021FoundedCradle was founded in Amsterdam to apply ML to protein engineering.
- 2022Seed roundIndex led the company's early financing.
- 2023Series ACradle raised $24 million to expand product and lab capability.
- 2024Series BIVP led a $73 million round.
- 2025European startup recognitionCradle was cited as a notable European AI-biology startup.
Who are Cradle's competitors?
Cradle competes with specialized startups and larger platform companies in protein engineering ai.
Cradle — frequently asked questions
