NutriLeads has secured €4.5 million in a Series C investment round to advance the commercialization of its prebiotic ingredient, BeniCaros.
The funding round was spearheaded by DSM-Firmenich Venturing, an existing investor, and received backing from other current investors.
The funding will facilitate expansion into consumer markets and geographies, as well as the establishment of a global brand for the precision prebiotic fiber ingredient. This ingredient is specifically designed to improve gut and immune health.
Crafted from upcycled carrot pomace, BeniCaros is a low-dose ingredient that, according to the company, has been clinically proven to enhance innate immune responses, promoting smarter, faster, and stronger reactions. Additionally, it consistently contributes to the improvement of microbiota composition, fostering a more resilient gut ecosystem.
Wageningen-based NutriLeads has highlighted that the modest serving size of BeniCaros (starting as low as 300mg) and its appealing formulation profile offer a multitude of product innovation possibilities for companies in the food, beverage, and dietary supplement sectors.
Following the successful conclusion of Series C financing, the company has revealed a revamped board structure, now adopting a single-tier format.
The board consists of CEO Joana Carneiro, chair Alexander Belderok, Florentime Fockema Andreae, and two new members: Akshat Kshetrapal, an investment director at DSM-Firmenich Venturing, and Bibilotte Duyvesteyn, a specialist in the specialty nutrition value chain.
The founder of NutriLeads, Ruud Albers, will shift from his current position as chief scientific officer to assume the role of chair for NutriLeads’ recently formed Scientific Advisory Committee. This committee will offer guidance for NutriLeads’ research and development endeavors.
Carneiro commented, “The financing and board changes support the transition of NutriLeads into a fully commercial company with an emerging global brand of tremendous potential in the health ingredients market. Combined with the additional capital, NutriLeads is well positioned for strong sales growth and profitability.”
