When people hear the name Ben Lamm, they might think of woolly mammoths or Jurassic Park-like headlines. But there’s far more to the serial entrepreneur than sensational science. As the co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, Lamm is at the helm of a quiet revolution one where entrepreneurship meets ecology, and where innovation is redefined not by profit margins alone, but by planetary impact.
Entrepreneurship in the Age of Ecological Collapse
The climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ecological degradation are the defining challenges of our time. Traditionally, the burden of addressing these crises has fallen to governments and NGOs. Ben Lamm is flipping the script. He’s showing that the tools of Silicon Valley venture capital, moonshot innovation, and startup culture can be harnessed for planetary-scale solutions.
From SaaS to Species
Ben Lamm built and sold several successful companies before founding Colossal in 2021. These include:
- Chaotic Moon – A creative tech studio acquired by Accenture
- Conversable – A chatbot SaaS platform acquired by LivePerson
- Hypergiant Industries – An AI defense and space tech firm acquired by Trive Capital
What’s notable is not just the success of these ventures, but Lamm’s deliberate pivot away from consumer-facing tech toward solving existential problems.
Colossal Biosciences
Colossal’s mission is bold: de-extinction. But behind the dramatic pitch lies a deeply strategic model. Unlike traditional biotech, Colossal isn’t just developing one product it’s building an ecosystem of tools for genetics, AI, and conservation.
Multiple Streams of Innovation
| Colossal Initiative | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Woolly Mammoth Revival | Rewild Arctic tundra and restore biodiversity | Expected calf by 2028 |
| Form Bio | AI platform for scientists | Spun out in 2022 |
| Breaking (X-32 Microbe) | Plastic degradation innovation | Launched in 2024 |
| The Colossal Foundation | Global conservation and biobanking | Established 2024 |
The Rise of the Purpose-Driven Capitalist
One of the most insightful aspects of Ben Lamm’s strategy is his understanding of the modern investor’s mindset. Colossal wasn’t funded through traditional VC circles alone. It attracted backers such as:
- Thomas Tull – Founder of Legendary Entertainment
- Peter Jackson – Filmmaker and visionary
- Jim Breyer – Billionaire tech investor
Lamm intentionally targeted investors known for moonshot thinking people who understood that ROI could mean more than dollars. In a podcast interview, Lamm noted: We’re building tech that could literally impact the entire biosphere. That’s the return.
Fundraising Milestones
- Raised $225 million across Series A–C by 2024
- Total funding reached $435 million by early 2025
- Employed 110+ scientists and researchers worldwide
Decoding Lamm’s Long-Term Playbook
What makes Lamm unique among entrepreneurs is his insistence on long-termism. His companies are designed not for 2-year exits, but for 20-year impact cycles.
1. Tech Spinouts as Ecosystem Builders
Each Colossal spinoff Form Bio, Breaking, etc. serves both commercial and environmental purposes. This dual impact makes the company’s research self-sustaining and scalable.
2. Avoiding Philanthropic Crowding
Lamm has stressed that Colossal avoids taking funding from conservation or nonprofit pools. We went to tech money, not elephant-saving money, he once said. This model allows for net-new capital to flow into conservation tech without cannibalizing existing resources.
3. Scientific Culture Reimagined
By bringing startup speed and cross-disciplinary teams into biology, Lamm is disrupting the often slow-moving world of academic science. For example, Form Bio is helping scientists reduce genome analysis time by up to 50%.
Ben Lamm’s Broader Influence
Lamm’s impact is not limited to the companies he’s founded. He serves on the boards of:
- The Explorers Club – Board of Trustees and Fellow
- The Planetary Society – Scientific Advisory Board
- Arch Mission Foundation – Advisory Board
These roles reflect his deep commitment to advancing science not just through business, but through education and exploration.
What’s Next for Ben Lamm?
By 2025, Colossal has made progress on multiple fronts:
- Launched Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi engineered dire wolves
- Expanded into synthetic biology with new conservation tools
- Set the stage for the first woolly mammoth calf in 2028
Lamm’s next frontier may be even more ambitious: building the tools for an ecological toolkit that governments and corporations can deploy in crisis zones from coral bleaching to rainforest degradation.
Ben Lamm and Colossal Biosciences
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Total Funding Raised | $435 million |
| Key Species Projects | Woolly Mammoth, Thylacine, Dodo, Dire Wolf |
| Team Size (2025) | 140+ employees |
Conclusion
Ben Lamm isn’t just building startups he’s building the architecture of a sustainable future. By blending deep tech with a conservationist’s heart, he’s forging a new category of entrepreneur: the ecopreneur. And with Colossal Biosciences, he’s proving that science fiction doesn’t have to stay fiction. It can be a roadmap.
In an era of ecological uncertainty, Lamm’s work offers a rare thing: hope, backed by hard science.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Ben Lamm?
Ben Lamm is an American serial entrepreneur and futurist best known as the founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company. He has launched multiple successful ventures in AI, defense, gaming, and synthetic biology.
What is Colossal Biosciences?
Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology company co-founded by Ben Lamm in 2021. It focuses on species de-extinction, using advanced genetic engineering to bring back extinct animals like the Woolly Mammoth and Thylacine while restoring ecosystems.
How much funding has Colossal Biosciences raised?
As of 2025, Colossal Biosciences has raised over $435 million in funding from investors including Thomas Tull, Jim Breyer, and Peter Jackson. The company is widely recognized as a leader in conservation technology and synthetic biology.
What makes Ben Lamm different from other tech entrepreneurs?
Ben Lamm stands out for using startup methods to tackle ecological and planetary-scale challenges. His model combines venture capital with long-term environmental goals, creating a new category of ecopreneurship.
Which companies has Ben Lamm previously founded?
Ben Lamm has founded several innovative companies including:
- Chaotic Moon – Acquired by Accenture
- Conversable – Acquired by LivePerson
- Hypergiant Industries – Acquired by Trive Capital
- Form Bio – Biotech software spinoff from Colossal
What are Ben Lamm’s future plans?
Ben Lamm plans to scale Colossal’s technology to assist in global conservation efforts, synthetic biology breakthroughs, and ecosystem repair. Upcoming milestones include the first Woolly Mammoth birth and additional biotech spinoffs.