The team

Genetics, agronomy and policy, and dry-land farming — three careers most crop-development companies spend years stitching together after founding. We started with all of them at the table. What unites us is a conviction that American agriculture needs better seeds, and a belief that we are the right people to deliver them.

Foundation
Cofounders' NSF lupin research
Beachhead crops
Sweet lupin
Founding team

Two co-founders. Complementary fields. One crop-development company built for the conditions growers actually farm in.

Co-founders
2
Combined years
35+
Portrait of Christopher Hendrickson, CEO and co-founder of Atavus.
01
01 · Co-founder

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
  • Plant science
  • Biotechnology
  • Genomics
  • Agri-innovation

Christopher brings over 15 years of experience across plant sciences, biotechnology, and agricultural innovation. He began his career as a plant physiologist and molecular biologist at Washington State University, where he specialized in the physiogenomics of crop ripening and biochemistry. He later served as a Professor of Biology and Chair of the University Research Council at National University, where he secured National Science Foundation funding to establish foundational genomics resources for extremophilic plant species.

Christopher is also the Founder and Chief Science Officer of Loop Chemicals, developing modular platforms for carbon-neutral fertilizer synthesis. His work has resulted in multiple patents for biodegradable nanoparticle agricultural adjuvants, high-efficiency nitrogen delivery systems, and postharvest chemistries to preserve fruit quality. He holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Washington State University, where his research on gene expression and analytical chemistry earned recognition in the field of postharvest biology.

Outside his professional work, Christopher serves as a consultant and advocate for regional sustainable agriculture, and is a dedicated advocate for the conservation of drought-tolerant native plants to ensure global food security.

Portrait of Tyson Koepke, CSO and co-founder of Atavus.
02
02 · Co-founder

Chief Science Officer & Co-Founder
  • Breeding
  • Molecular genetics
  • Operations
  • On-farm experience

Tyson brings over two decades of experience across commercial agriculture, biotechnology, and operational leadership. He began his career as a third-generation farmer on his family’s dry-land farm producing cereal crops and livestock in high-stress environments. He entered academia and research, earning a Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Sciences from Washington State University and developing genetic markers for the WSU Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics Lab to improve crop sustainability and resilience.

Tyson was a co-founder of Phytelligence Inc., where he served as Director of Operations. He established, trained, and led the production team in developing protocols to scale over 500,000 plants and helped secure more than $3.0M in investment to support expansion. His published research is widely recognized for advancing trait-gene insights and tissue culture efficacy in the tree fruit industry.

Tyson is a passionate advocate for PNW and Northern Plains agriculture, and is experienced in balancing farm profitability with environmental stewardship. As Chief Science Officer for Atavus, he serves as a bridge between laboratory innovation and field application, ensuring that new crop options are both viable for farmers and sustainable for global food systems.

How we work together

01PILLAR

Science that ships

Research is the means, not the product. We ship field-ready genetics on a timeline growers can actually plan around.

02PILLAR

Field before slide

Every decision is pressure-tested in the conditions the crop has to survive — dry-land, heat-stressed, low-input.

03PILLAR

Partners, not vendors

Growers, processors, and institutions are built into our work from the start. We grow together or we don’t grow at all.

Join the work

If your work lines up with ours — breeding, agronomy, processing, policy, or capital — we would like to hear about it.