Toronto-based biotechnology startup Molagri has raised US$5.8 million (CA$8.2 million) in pre-seed and seed funding to advance its development of precision biopesticides designed to control insect pests while reducing impacts on beneficial insects.

The funding round was led by Convective Capital, with participation from Y Combinator, Superorganism, Robinhood Ventures, Paul Graham and other angel investors. Julian Capital was the company’s earliest backer and led its pre-seed round.

Molagri is developing engineered virus-like particles (VLPs) that target specific insect pest species. The technology is intended to address growing challenges with insecticide resistance and the loss of existing crop protection products, while offering an alternative to broad-spectrum insecticides that can also harm pollinators and other beneficial insects.

The company’s platform uses non-infectious VLPs engineered to recognize specific receptors found in target pest insects. Once inside an insect, the particles deliver genetic instructions that prompt its cells to produce an insecticidal payload. Beneficial insects without the targeted receptors are not affected.

The system is designed to be adapted as pest populations evolve, allowing the company to modify both the targeting mechanism and insecticidal payload rather than develop an entirely new platform for each pest.

Molagri’s first products will focus on insect pests affecting tree nuts and tree fruits, where the company sees an immediate need for new insecticide options.

“Farmers shouldn’t have to worry about resistance, the same way you don’t think about which flu strain is going around when you get a flu shot,” said Zaky Hassan, co-founder and CEO of Molagri.

The company’s longer-term goal is to develop new products ahead of emerging resistance problems in the field. The funding will support laboratory expansion and recruitment of additional scientists to advance the technology.

Hassan and co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Min Jin are viral structural biologists and protein biochemists from the University of Toronto, where they studied human coronaviruses.

Molagri recently expanded into a new Toronto laboratory equipped with biomanufacturing and tissue culture facilities and has filed a provisional patent covering its targeted VLP delivery system.

The company will use the new investment to expand its scientific team and accelerate research and development. It is recruiting specialists in insect biology, virology and VLP production.

Molagri is a graduate of Y Combinator’s Summer 2026 program.