The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Danish gut health innovator Bactolife has successfully closed a Series B investment round, raising over €30 million to accelerate the commercialisation of its proprietary technology.

The financing was led by Cross Border Impact Ventures (CBIV) and EIFO (Danish Export and Investment Fund), with continued participation from existing cornerstone investors Novo Holdings and Athos. The capital injection is earmarked to transition the company from development to market entry, specifically funding the launch of its "Binding Proteins" platform.

Commercial Strategy: The 'Helm' Brand Launch

Bactolife is poised to introduce its technology as a new ingredient category for food, feed, and dietary supplements. The company has confirmed plans to launch its first products under the ingredient brand Helm™ for human health, targeting a United States market entry in 2026.

Following the US debut, the strategic roadmap includes expansion into Asia and Europe. Crucially, the rollout includes a commitment to ensuring accessibility for vulnerable demographics (women and children) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Technology: What are Binding Proteins?

Bactolife’s innovation represents a novel approach to proactive health management. Unlike traditional probiotics or antibiotics, Binding Proteins are designed to support intestinal resilience by gently binding and neutralising unhealthy metabolites within the gut.

The proceeds from the funding round will support:

• Human Study Program: Execution of clinical validation across the US, EU, Asia, and LMICs.

• Manufacturing Scale: Ramping up supply chain operations to meet global demand for both human and animal health applications.

Sebastian Søderberg, CEO of Bactolife, commented on the transition to a commercial entity:

Donna Parr, Managing Partner at Cross Border Impact Ventures, highlighted the dual market potential: “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... At the same time, we are excited about the significant growth opportunity across North America, Europe, and Asia where the market opportunity is massive.”