PhageLab Pitch Deck (2023): 27-Slide Series A Deck

See all 27 slides of the PhageLab pitch deck — a 2023 Series A deck — with a slide-by-slide teardown of what the deck does well and where it falls short.

PhageLab raised $11M in a 2023 Series A round led by investors including Nazca and Collaborative Fund. Their 27-slide deck (14 slides analyzed) positions the company at the intersection of AI and biotechnology, specifically targeting the livestock industry's reliance on antibiotics. The narrative is built on a 'global health catastrophe' framework, supported by data showing meat production's increasing antibiotic dependency. PhageLab’s core value proposition is LEIDEN, an epidemiological analysis algorithm backed by over 10 years of experimentation data and a massive industrial bacteria repos…

Key takeaways

The Narrative Arc: From Catastrophe to Cure

PhageLab’s pitch deck is a masterclass in 'Problem-First' storytelling. In the biotechnology sector, where technical jargon often obscures the business case, PhageLab uses the first third of their deck to establish a sense of global urgency. They don't just pitch a product; they pitch a solution to an 'imminent' global health catastrophe. This approach is designed to align the investor's interests with a mission of global importance before diving into the complexities of microbiology.

Slides 1-2: The Hook and the Warning

The title slide (Slide 1) establishes PhageLab as an 'AI-powered biotech platform.' This is a strategic positioning choice. By leading with AI, they signal scalability and a data-driven approach, moving away from the perception of biotech as a slow, 'wet-lab-only' endeavor. The subtitle, 'solving the global bacterial threat,' sets the stakes immediately.

Slide 2 is a stark, minimalist transition: 'A GLOBAL HEALTH CATASTROPHE IS IMMINENT.' This is a classic high-stakes opening. It forces the reader to ask 'Why?' and 'How?', creating an emotional hook that the subsequent data-heavy slides will satisfy.

Slide 4: The Economic and Biological Link

Slide 4 provides the data to back up the warning. It features a dual-axis chart showing the correlation between meat production (annual kg per capita) and the dose size of antibiotics used for food (mg/kg/day). The figures are specific: antibiotic use has climbed from 5 mg/kg/day in 1960 to a peak of 50 in 2010, settling at 38 in 2020. This slide identifies the livestock industry as the primary battleground for bacterial resistance, narrowing the company's focus from 'global health' to a specific, addressable market: intensive animal rearing.

Slides 6-8: Escalating the Problem

Slide 6 uses bold, stylized illustration to announce that 'THE CRISIS HAS JUST BEGUN.' This leads into Slide 8, which delivers a staggering statistic attributed to the WHO (2018): 'BY 2050, ANTIBACTERIAL RESISTANCE WILL BECOME THE MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH IN HUMANS.' By linking livestock practices to human mortality, PhageLab justifies a high valuation based on the sheer necessity of their solution.

Slides 10-12: The Biological Solution

Slide 10 acts as a bridge to the solution: 'NOW, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.' Slide 12 introduces 'Phages' as 'natural-born killers of bacteria.' For an investor who may not be a biologist, this slide is essential. It defines phages as viruses that infect bacteria with high specificity. The 'How They Work' section breaks the process down into three simple steps: 1. Seek (identify bacteria), 2. Colonize (replicate within the target), and 3. Destroy (kill via enzymatic mechanism). This simplification of a complex biological process is a key strength of the deck.

Slide 14: The Technical Moat (LEIDEN)

This is arguably the most important slide for a Series A investor. It introduces 'LEIDEN,' their epidemiological analysis algorithm. PhageLab claims a significant intellectual property advantage here, citing US Patent pending US18/006,453. The slide lists four 'unique sources of data' that constitute their moat:

10+ years of experimentation data. · The world’s largest industrial bacteria repository. · A huge and tested Phage repository. · The application of genomics and bioinformatics.

This slide moves the conversation from 'what we do' to 'why no one else can do it as well as we can.'

Slide 22: Proof of Efficacy

In biotech, data is king. Slide 22 presents the results of field trials with a bold claim: 'PHAGELAB ELIMINATES UP TO 100% OF SALMONELLA PRESENCE.' The background image of a commercial poultry farm reminds the investor of the real-world application. This 100% figure is a powerful 'mic drop' moment in the deck, providing the empirical evidence needed to support the earlier theoretical claims.

Slides 25-27: Scale and Expertise

Slide 25 highlights the company's growth, stating they are 'nearly 100 people in 3 countries.' This demonstrates that PhageLab is no longer a small lab project but a scaling international operation. Slide 27 introduces the team, which is divided into Founders, Executive Team, Advisors, and Board Members. The credentials are high-caliber, including MScs in Biotechnology and Innovation, and former executives from major industry players like Bayer Animal Health, MSD, and DSM. Having partners from Kaszek VC and Humboldt Fund on the board further validates their institutional backing.

Slides 29-31: The Conclusion and Appendix

Slide 29 reiterates the core message: 'SCIENCE WORKS AND WE CAN PROVE IT.' This serves as a final reassurance to the investor. Slide 31 marks the beginning of the Appendix, suggesting that the 13 slides following this point likely contain the deeper technical data, financial tables, and regulatory pathways that a serious due diligence process would require.

What Works in the PhageLab Deck

Clarity of Mission: The deck never loses sight of the 'Global Health Catastrophe.' Every technical detail is framed as a necessary tool to avert this crisis. · Visual Identity: The use of custom, high-quality illustrations (like the 'phage' characters) makes the deck memorable and professional, which is important for a Series A round. · IP Protection: Explicitly citing a patent number (Slide 14) provides immediate comfort to investors regarding the company's defensibility. · Simplified Science: The 'Seek, Colonize, Destroy' framework (Slide 12) is an excellent way to explain a complex product to a generalist VC.

What is Missing

The Ask: While we know from the catalogue that they raised $11M, the provided slides do not show the 'Ask' or the 'Use of Funds.' This is a critical component for understanding how the capital will drive the next phase of growth. · Business Model Details: The catalogue mentions a SaaS and B2C model, but the slides themselves do not explain the pricing structure or how they integrate with the livestock producers' existing workflows. · Competitive Landscape: There is no slide comparing PhageLab to other phage companies or traditional antibiotic manufacturers. Investors need to know why PhageLab’s AI-first approach is superior to competitors. · Financial Projections: There are no charts showing projected revenue growth, burn rate, or path to profitability in the main body of the deck.

What Founders Should Copy

The 'Problem-Solution' Bridge: Use a transition slide like Slide 10 ('Now, this is how we do it') to clearly separate the market pain from your specific remedy. · Data-Backed Urgency: If your industry has a macro trend (like the 2050 WHO death projection on Slide 8), use it to frame your company as an inevitability rather than just an option. · Highlighting the Moat: Don't just say you have data; quantify it. '10+ years of experimentation data' (Slide 14) is much more compelling than 'extensive research.' · Team Categorization: Grouping the team into Founders, Executives, and Advisors (Slide 27) helps investors quickly understand the balance of visionary leadership and industry experience.

Frequently asked questions

What is PhageLab's core technology?
PhageLab utilizes bacteriophages—viruses that naturally infect and kill specific bacteria. Their proprietary 'LEIDEN' platform uses AI and genomics to identify the correct phages for specific bacterial strains found in livestock. This allows for a tailor-made antibacterial solution that avoids the broad-spectrum resistance issues associated with traditional antibiotics.
How does PhageLab prove its product works?
The deck highlights field trials where their solutions eliminated up to 100% of Salmonella in poultry environments. This real-world validation is critical for biotech companies moving from the lab to commercial application, especially in the cost-sensitive livestock industry.
What is the market opportunity identified in the deck?
The opportunity is driven by the global increase in meat consumption and the resulting 'intensive rearing process' that requires antibiotics. As bacteria become resistant to traditional drugs, livestock producers face catastrophic risks. PhageLab positions itself as the essential alternative to maintain global food security.
Who are the key investors in this round?
The $11M Series A was supported by a mix of venture capital firms and prominent angels, including Nazca, Collaborative Fund, Water Lemon Ventures, and Kevin Efrusy. This diverse cap table suggests interest from both impact-focused and traditional tech investors.
What is missing from the PhageLab pitch deck?
While the deck is strong on science and problem-solution fit, the provided slides lack a clear 'Ask' slide detailing the specific allocation of the $11M. It also omits detailed unit economics, revenue projections, and a competitive landscape analysis, which are usually expected in a Series A presentation.
Cover slide of the PhageLab pitch deck — Series A 2023
PhageLab pitch deck, slide 1 (2023)

PhageLab pitch deck: the facts

Company
PhageLab
Year
2023
Stage
Series A
Slides
27
Sector
Biotechnology

PhageLab pitch deck PDF

The full PhageLab deck is embedded on this page and can be read slide by slide in the browser — no download or account required. Each slide is covered in the breakdown above.

What the PhageLab pitch deck was used for

This deck is PhageLab’s 27‑slide **Series A** fundraising presentation used around 2023–early 2024 to raise **$11M** for bacteriophage-based solutions targeting multidrug-resistant bacterial outbreaks in the livestock industry. The company positions itself as a pioneer in AI‑supported, tailor‑made phage therapies that can replace antibiotics at scale in poultry and livestock production, with Brazil as an initial core commercial market. The deck ties the global antibiotic resistance crisis to concrete impacts on human health and frames livestock-focused deployment as a scalable pathway to commercialization.

Business model: PhageLab develops and commercializes precision bacteriophage-based solutions that replace or reduce antibiotics in livestock and poultry production, focusing on tailored phage “cocktails” to control multidrug-resistant bacterial outbreaks such as Salmonella and E. coli.

Round
Series A
Raised
$11M
Investors
Nazca, Collaborative Fund, Water Lemon Ventures, Kevin Efrusy
Founded
2010

Year: 2024 (Series A round announced January 23, 2024).

Lead investor: Nazca (commonly cited as a leading investor alongside Collaborative Fund, based on funding announcements).

Headquarters: Santiago, Chile (HQ at Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago; HQ facilities located in the UC Anacleto Angelini Innovation Center).

Industry: Biotechnology / Animal Health (bacteriophage-based antibacterial solutions for livestock and poultry).

Total funding: $11M total funding reported in public profiles for the Series A round; other sources list higher aggregate figures but without sufficient detail to verify beyond the $11M Series A.

Use of funds as presented: Advancing PhageLab’s pipeline of bacteriophage solutions for livestock, establishing a stronger commercial position in Brazil as the main target market, and expanding its technology and operations into the US.

What happened after the PhageLab deck

Following the 27‑slide Series A deck, PhageLab successfully completed a $11M Series A round in January 2024 to scale its bacteriophage platform in livestock and poultry, with a commercial focus on Brazil and Chile and plans to expand into additional markets via a future Series B.

What the PhageLab deck got right

What could have been stronger

How an investor would read this deck

What draws attention

Risks that stand out

Questions this deck invites

What founders can take from the PhageLab deck

PhageLab pitch deck: common questions

What does PhageLab do?

PhageLab is a Chilean biotechnology company that develops precision bacteriophage treatments to control multidrug‑resistant bacterial outbreaks (such as Salmonella and E. coli) in livestock and poultry, aiming to reduce or replace antibiotics in intensive animal production.

How much did PhageLab raise in its Series A round and when?

PhageLab’s publicly announced **$11M funding round** is a **Series A** completed on **January 23, 2024**, used to advance its phage-based solution pipeline and establish a stronger commercial position in Brazil while preparing expansion into the US.

Who invested in PhageLab’s Series A round?

Public announcements name **Nazca** and **Collaborative Fund** among the investors in the $11M Series A, alongside Water Lemon Ventures and angel investor Kevin Efrusy, while other databases list overlapping but not fully consistent investor sets; only Nazca, Collaborative Fund, Water Lemon Ventures, and Kevin Efrusy are directly cited in press coverage.

What market does PhageLab focus on and how is its technology used?

PhageLab’s products and collaborations focus on replacing antibiotics in poultry and swine farming through tailor‑made bacteriophage “cocktails”, with operations in Chile and Brazil and commercial penetration that includes treating tens of millions of birds monthly and a significant share of Brazil’s poultry market according to later descriptions.

What did the PhageLab Series A pitch deck aim to fund, and what happened afterward?

The deck supported a **Series A** raise of **$11M** for scaling PhageLab’s bacteriophage platform in livestock, particularly in Brazil; subsequent public information confirms the Series A close in January 2024 and describes later plans for a Series B to fund expansion into Mexico and the US, which were not part of the original Series A pitch.

Sources

Funding and outcome facts on this page were researched on 2026-08-21 from the pages below.

PhageLab pitch deck slides

PhageLab pitch deck slide 1 of 27
PhageLab pitch deck — slide 1 of 27
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PhageLab pitch deck — slide 6 of 27

What each slide of the PhageLab pitch deck says

Slide 2

PH_GE ab y UDEVELOPMENT AND ¢ CHARACTERIZATION OF A BACTERIOPHAGE COCKTAIL WITH HIGH LYTIC EFFICACY AGAINST FIELD-ISOLATED SALMONELLA ENTERICA" Phagelab at Poultry Science Journal: “ PR an official journal of the Poultry J Science Association AgueK A= 01 02

Slide 4

3 ANTIBIOTICS ARE BECOMING USELESS, LIMITING OPTIONS TO FIGHT BACTERIA Bacteria are learning how to resist Since 2019, 50% of all antibiotics used antibiotics at an exponential rate, both in inintensive animal farming are ineffective, humans and animals. worsening the situation. 1000 60% a00 50% 40% | 600 30% 400 20% 200 10% 0 0% %%%%%%% %%Y, * %, % % pA 5 % - Bocecis ne Gn = = rm ia A — Il of ineffective products for cows PH,GE lob

Slide 5

4 MEAT CONSUMPTION WILL GROW CONSISTENTLY IT'S HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON ANTIBIOTICS 50 80 a a Today, to supply enough animals for _ 38 uw JB a 60 _§ consumption requires a concentrated and 5 i 3 50 FH intensive rearing process — EH 77, 31 Conditions that increase the risk of a multi- 8255 | 22 .® x 36 | 4083 drug-resistant bacterial outbreak. i: ” 32 3 : Antibiotics are the most used method to - 13 ir) 20 : fight against pathogenic bacteria in animals. 10 5 0 [4 B% % BB BB YB Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Il Dose size of antibiotic used for food (mglkg/day) World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Global trends in antimicrobial use in food animals, 2015,…

Slide 6

5 BIG PHARMA IS ABANDONING NEW ANTIBIOTIC DEVELOPMENT The number of new antibiotic initiatives is decreasing dramatically. And requires a huge amount of effort and investment 70 with an uncertain commercial future TIME INVESTMENT UNCERTAIN REVENUE 42 Ls. 15-+%1+%200 24 —E EE EE 5 Years Billion Millions | | Time needed to Capital Expected revenue EE — bring anew requirement to with avg. 5 years of 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2000 2010-2019 antibiotic to develop anew full efficacy market antibiotic Number of new antibiotics approvals by the FDA Source: US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA 2023). The PEW Chaxitable Tusts (2020). Workd Health Organization (WHO 2022). Center for Disease Control and…

Slide 8

THE CRISIS IS ALREADY IMPACTING HUMAN HEALTH Recent studies show that in 2019 multi-drugresistance (MDR) played a part in the deaths of more than 4.95 million people worldwide. Human deaths PH,GE:h

Slide text above is read directly from the PhageLab deck PDF embedded on this page.

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