Bactolife raises over US$34.9M in series B funding to commercialise precision-fermented binding proteins
Danish biotech start-up Bactolife secures major funding to scale precision-fermented proteins for food, supplement and feed markets.
DENMARK – Copenhagen-based biotech start-up Bactolife has raised more than €30m in Series B funding to accelerate the commercialisation of its precision-fermented Binding Proteins innovation, targeting applications across food, feed and dietary supplement markets.
The funding round was led by Cross Border Impact Ventures and EIFO, the Danish Export and Investment Fund, with continued participation from existing investors Novo Holdings and Athos.
According to the company, the capital will support large-scale commercialisation, expansion of manufacturing capabilities and execution of its human study programme.
Bactolife describes its Binding Proteins as a “revolutionary category of functional proteins” designed to neutralise undesired metabolites and enhance gut resilience in both humans and animals.
The proteins are milk-inspired and draw from camelid immunoglobins, which are naturally produced by mammals in the Camelidae family, including camels, llamas and alpacas.
Using precision fermentation, Bactolife produces these proteins without animal involvement by training microorganisms to generate targeted ingredients at scale. The company said this approach allows for consistent, food-grade production suited to a wide range of nutritional applications.
“This funding will enable us to clinically validate, scale and commercialise our Binding Proteins, taking Bactolife’s solutions to a broad audience,” said Sebastian Søderberg, CEO of Bactolife.
“We are excited to welcome new investors to the Bactolife family and are deeply grateful to our existing investors, whose continued support reflects their confidence in our mission.”
With the new investment, Bactolife plans to launch its first Binding Protein products under the ingredient brand Helm in 2026, initially in the United States.
The company intends to expand into Asia and Europe in subsequent years, with a stated aim of making the technology accessible to women and children in low- and middle-income countries.
The start-up also plans to scale its manufacturing and supply operations to meet anticipated global demand, focusing on functional foods and beverages, nutritional supplements and feed additives.
Donna Parr, managing director at lead investor Cross Border Impact Ventures, said the technology has strong potential for broad impact.
“Bactolife’s Binding Proteins have the potential to strengthen gut resilience for mothers and children in low- and middle-income countries by providing a scalable, food-grade solution that can be integrated into everyday nutrition,” she said.
“This investment reflects our conviction that evidence-based technologies can reach massive high-growth markets, inclusive of people who need them most, and we look forward to partnering with Bactolife to accelerate clinical validation, scale manufacturing, and expand equitable access globally,” Parr added.
The funding comes amid growing demand for functional proteins. According to Grand View Research, the global functional protein market was valued at US$6.5bn in 2023 and is projected to reach US$9.48bn by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.3% from 2024 to 2030.
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