Switch Bioworks engineers naturally occurring symbiotic microbes to produce nitrogen fertilizer directly on plant roots under the control of precise genetic circuits. The company formulates these microbes into powder containing billions per ounce, which farmers apply at crop sowing; the microbes proliferate alongside germinating plants before switching on fertilizer production. This synthetic biology approach reprograms microbes to serve as a carbon-neutral replacement for conventional synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Founded in 2022 as a spinout from Stanford University by Tim Schnabel, who serves as CEO; key executives include Steve Del Cardayre as CTO and Brett Boghigian as Chief Business Officer. Switch Bioworks raised $17 million in Series Seed financing in September 2024 led by Change Forces Capital, with Grantham Foundation, Astanor Ventures, Acre Venture Partners, Anthos Capital, Thia Ventures, Emerson Collective, and Ag Ventures Alliance; total funding exceeds $25 million including a 2022 pre-seed round and grants such as $2 million federal funding in 2025. The company is headquartered in San Carlos, California, with labs and offices located there.