Founded in Los Angeles by former NASA scientists and engineers, Manakin Bio is developing AI-enabled biotechnology to provide faster, real-time detection of harmful pathogens and antibiotic contamination through the food supply chain. The platform is built for environments including aquaculture facilities, food processing operations and warehouse settings, helping food producers make quicker decisions while reducing waste and operational delays.

For the Manakin Bio team, building better technology is only part of the work. The company believes that investing in local education, workforce programs and collaborative partnerships helps strengthen the broader life science ecosystem across Southern California, and that commitment shapes how they engage with their community.

That belief brought Manakin Bio to Biocom Institute’s Life Science Career Expo in Los Angeles on April 15. The team attended to better understand the local talent landscape and connect directly with students, recent graduates, and experienced professionals. By the end of the event, they had received more than 40 resumes from candidates whose backgrounds spanned nanotechnology, microbiology, aquaculture, advanced imaging and biomanufacturing.

The team was especially encouraged by candidates who could bridge multiple scientific and technical fields, a priority for a company whose work spans biology, engineering, chemistry and AI. For CEO Vaishnavi Yathirajam, that interdisciplinary thinking is central to Manakin Bio’s DNA. Her background at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on projects including Mars Rover 2020, Europa Clipper and planetary protection initiatives, sparked her interest in microbial detection and biosecurity, and the recognition that similar vulnerabilities exist throughout Earth’s food systems. That perspective shapes how the company thinks about the talent it needs and the community it wants to build.

According to Ari Mostov, head of narrative, diversity is another important part of their culture. The team includes scientists, engineers, and innovators from different countries, cultures, and professional backgrounds who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to the company’s work. Many members came to Los Angeles to pursue advanced education and opportunities in science and technology, ultimately choosing to stay and contribute to solving meaningful global challenges. For the Manakin Bio team, that diversity helps foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful problem solving.

Manakin Bio has been building relationships throughout California’s growing blue economy community, particularly around San Pedro, while also exploring pilot opportunities internationally. For the team, that work is tied to a larger mission around protecting ecosystems, strengthening food security and supporting more sustainable systems for the future.

While Los Angeles is often recognized for entertainment and media, Manakin Bio sees tremendous opportunity within Southern California’s expanding biotechnology, aerospace, agriculture, aquaculture and advanced manufacturing communities. The company values the collaborative culture developing between startups, educational institutions, workforce organizations and industry partners working together to solve complex problems.

As Manakin Bio prepares for future growth, the team remains committed to being part of that ecosystem, not just as a company building technology, but as an active participant in the community working toward a safer food future.