Pivot Bio Expands Iowa Customer Success Center

One of the fastest-growing ag startups in the country is expanding its Iowa location as it ramps up commercial sales and launches its second-generation product. 

Pivot Bio opened its Customer Success Center at the Iowa State University Research Park in Ames in March 2019, and is now expanding into new space at the Park.  The Customer Success Center houses the company’s customer service team and provides world-class facilities for sales training, customer interactions. a hub for Central Iowa employees, and more. 

“As we looked at possible locations for a Midwest-based center, the ISU Research Park provided the best combination – a location in the central Iowa corridor alongside leading ag companies, proximity to one of the best ag research universities and students, and close to many of our customers,” said Mark Reisinger, Vice President – Commercial Operations for Pivot Bio. 

Pivot Bio is focused on developing a microbial product that can replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.  Its second-generation product – Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 – enables corn growers to replace up to 40 pounds of per acre of synthetic nitrogen with nitrogen that is produced by the plant itself.

Farmers apply a liquid solution containing two microbes along with seed during planting.  As the corn plant grows, the microbes adhere to the plant’s roots, produce nitrogen, and deliver it directly to the plant during the most important stages of the growing season. 

“Nitrogen is critical for the productivity of farmers and to meet the needs of a growing world population, but synthetic nitrogen is inefficient with about half of it never being used by the plant,” said Reisinger.  “We are the only company in the world that has delivered a replacement to synthetic nitrogen at scale, and most importantly, in a way that meets farmer’s tough requirements for both application and performance.”  

In 2021, Pivot Bio tripled its sales and replaced synthetic nitrogen on more than 1 million acres of U.S. farmland.   Over the next decade, the company’s technology can help prevent about $200 billion of environmental damage by replacing synthetic nitrogen and avoiding its adverse effects.

The company recently announced the close of a $430 million Series D funding, bringing the total equity raised by Pivot Bio to more than $600 million.  The company has more than 250 employees across the U.S at six core locations including the Ames Customer Success Center, lab facilities in Berkeley, Boston, and St. Louis, greenhouses in Hayward, Calif., and warehouse operations in Chicago.  Pivot Bio has 31 employees in Iowa, with 17 located at the ISU Research Park facility.

“Pivot Bio’s expansion at the ISU Research Park is just one example of the opportunities in Iowa for companies of all sizes,” said Billi Hunt, executive director of America’s Cultivation Corridor.  “A location near leading researchers, forward thinking farmers and livestock producers, a knowledgeable and experienced employee base, and a top-notch, affordable quality of life make Iowa the place to be for agricultural innovators.”

Pivot Bio is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at its new Customer Success Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 26.  The event will feature tours and lunch following a short program.  Register to attend by August 19 on this website.