Growers are losing time and money as seeds take longer to germinate and stored stock loses viability. When seed emergence stretches from days to weeks, a single dry spell or cold snap can wipe out a planting, and unsold seed often goes to waste. NanoSoils Bio was founded to change that. Led by Dr Cong Vu, the team is adapting nanoparticle delivery to carry active ingredients directly to seeds, aiming for faster and more reliable germination in the field, as well as longer storage life.

Meet the founder of NanoSoils Bio, one of the ventures taking part in the Sprout Accelerator Spring25 Cohort. Trained in nanomedicine, Dr Cong Vu spent years designing nanoparticles to carry anti-cancer drugs. At the end of his PhD, he realised the same delivery science could be repurposed in another industry, delivering biologicals to seeds. What began as a lab insight became Cong’s new mission: help farmers and growers get more from their crops by making seeds stronger, faster and more resilient.

Cong leads a tight, technically deep team spun out of the University of New South Wales. He now drives commercialisation and scale, while his teammates, Dr Sa Xiao, with a PhD in chemistry, focus on making and scaling the nanoparticle technology. The team also has the support of Professor Justin Gooding at UNSW, and Professor Brajesh Singh at Western Sydney University.

Their approach starts small. NanoSoils Bio designs nanoparticles, tiny carriers a million times smaller than a tennis ball, that encapsulate biological molecules and other active substances. Coated onto seeds, these particles deliver their active ingredients where and when they’re needed, improving germination and stabilising seeds during storage. The advantage is earlier, more reliable germination in the field, and a longer shelf life prior to planting.

During trials, the team stumbled upon a surprising result, a seed stock that should have been dead after a year with zero germination began to sprout when treated with their nanoparticles. That accidental discovery unlocked a new value proposition, recovering seeds and giving growers a potential second chance with seeds that would otherwise be written off.

The team’s next steps are clear. First, repeat trials across more seed types, locations, and partners to prove consistent results. Second, scale production from today’s small batches to hundreds of kilograms and eventually tonnes per month, so they can supply the industry at real scale. For Cong, success looks like launching to market by early 2028, with trials complete, manufacturing scaled, and the right partners and investors on board. 

Now, as part of the Sprout Accelerator’s Spring25 Cohort, NanoSoils Bio is set on achieving its next milestones to build the fastest, most effective path to market. While the team is based in Australia, they see the benefits of working with seed, grower, and fertiliser companies in New Zealand, bringing a trans-Tasman perspective to their venture. Ultimately, the team wants to see their nanotechnology become a reliable tool in every grower's kit.