Atierra raises ¥60m pre-seed for microalgae aviation-fuel feedstock
Lifetime Ventures led the financing for the OIST spinout as it validates its bioproduction technology and prepares for pilot deployment.
Atierra has raised ¥60 million in a pre-seed round led by Lifetime Ventures, with participation from Yuri Group, Shinryo Fund and angel investors. The financing was announced on August 31, 2026, by Lifetime Ventures.
From technology validation to a pilot
The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology spinout is developing a microalgae bioproduction platform to supply low-carbon feedstock oil for sustainable aviation fuel. Its commercial challenge is to turn the potential of microalgae into production that is reliable, scalable and cost-competitive.
The proceeds will support technology development and validation, partnerships across the sustainable-aviation-fuel value chain, intellectual-property work and preparations for pilot deployment. Those steps are also intended to establish the business foundation for a subsequent equity round.
Chief executive Shivani Sathish and co-founder Daniel Yee are building the company around the supply of feedstock. Lifetime Ventures’ investment thesis focuses on the role that scalable raw materials could play in addressing aviation’s difficult emissions-reduction requirements.
Use of funds
Validate microalgae bioproduction technology
Build sustainable-aviation-fuel partnerships and strengthen intellectual property
Prepare pilot deployment