The company applies genomics and machine learning to research and design chemical producing genetically modified organisms.

Shortly after going public in 2021, it was reported that the company was facing difficulties in manufacturing and struggling to make revenue.

[6] All three met while working at Amyris, Inc.[7] The company uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to study and modify microbes which ferment carbon[6] to produce chemicals used in manufacturing consumer goods and pharmaceuticals.

[17] According to an insider source reported by Forbes, the company was failing to generate revenue by this point but continued to attract investment.

[21] When these operational problems became public it resulted in a sharp reduction in market capitalization and shareholder lawsuits were filed shortly after.

[2] In August 2021, the company revealed that Hyaline was not successful with customers, its foldable screen did not have as large of a market as anticipated, and it did not have any sources of revenue that year.

[26][27] In November 2021, Zymergen announced that it had abandoned the production of Hyaline, and would be focusing on drug and vaccine development.