BioLumic Named to Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech for 2025

Light-Activated xTraits™ Platform Creates a New Seed Trait Stack for Faster, Sustainable Crop Innovation

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — BioLumic, the agtech company transforming how the world improves seeds, has been named to Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech for 2025.

Now in its fifth year, Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech spotlights breakthrough technologies with the potential to profoundly reshape industries—from applied AI to sustainable agriculture—highlighting innovations on track to deliver transformative impact on how we live and work.

“We’re incredibly honored to be recognized by Fast Company alongside trailblazers shaping the future of technology worldwide,” said Steve Silbukin, CEO of BioLumic. “Biotech traits have driven remarkable progress in modern agriculture, but high costs, long development cycles, and regulatory complexity still limit access for most farmers. With xTraits™, our team is challenging these limits and helping to deliver climate-smart seed innovation faster.”

Most of the world’s farmers have never had access to the kinds of seed-trait innovations that drive productivity in major commodities like corn and soy. Developing biotech traits has historically required enormous cost, long development cycles, and complex regulatory approvals — limiting access and scalability. BioLumic’s xTraits platform uses precise light signals to “program plants,” unlocking their genetic potential to deliver heritable, non-GMO seed traits faster, more affordably, and at global scale.

xTraits combine the speed of digital innovation with the reach of existing seed systems to create a new kind of seed-trait stack that complements biotech. By working within established seed systems, xTraits make improvement instantly scalable. Seed companies can enhance current varieties without new breeding programs, while farmers continue using their proven genetics.

“xTraits are one of the quickest vectors for agricultural change — with built-in distribution through existing seed channels, no geographic limits, and no need for farmers to switch varieties or adopt new practices,” Sibulkin said. “Our approach accelerates discovery and expands access to innovation across every region, delivering faster progress on yield, climate resilience, and global food security.”

BioLumic’s light-activated traits are advancing across major global crops. In corn, the company’s xTraits are entering commercial deployment following strong field validation. In ryegrass and rice, early-stage development is showing promising improvements in yield, composition, and resilience — building the foundation for future sustainable growth in both food and feed systems.

In 2025, BioLumic transitioned from breakthrough science to commercial reality, launching the world’s first xTraits Activation System at Gro Alliance in Wisconsin to enable large-scale deployment of light-activated traits in U.S. corn seed production. The company forged major partnerships with Beck’s Hybrids, Fonterra, AgriZero, and Gro Alliance, while securing an $8.3 million Series B extension led by Fonterra’s Ki Tua Fund, DYDX, and iSelect. In 2024, BioLumic was named a finalist in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards, setting the stage for this latest recognition.

“Next Big Things in Tech is both a snapshot of the most interesting tech of the moment and a crystal ball that predicts the next several years,” said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “We’re excited to share this list with our readers, and we congratulate the winners for their vision and innovation.”