We’re proud to share that PFx Biotech, one of our portfolio companies, has successfully closed a €2.5 million seed funding round to advance its precision fermentation platform for producing bioidentical human milk proteins.

Based in Porto, PFx Biotech is on a mission to make nutrition more sustainable, inclusive, and effective. Their precision fermentation platform enables the production of highly bioactive proteins—non-GMO, allergy-free, and free from animal ingredients. These proteins have applications across all life stages, from infant formula to sports and elderly nutrition.

The round was led by Buenavista Equity Partners, alongside EIT Food and Beta Capital, and coincides with a €2.5 million grant from the EIC Accelerator. The funds will support PFx in scaling the production of its lead ingredient, Lactoferrin, to pre-industrial levels, expanding its team, and establishing new bespoke laboratory facilities.

“This is a defining moment for PFx Biotech,” said Ali Osman, CEO and Founder. “We’re proud to be backed by mission-aligned investors to help us unlock the potential of Lactoferrin in a more sustainable nutrition model.”

This funding round also marks an important milestone for biotope. PFx is the fourth company in our portfolio to convert and go on to raise significant follow-on funding. The founding team was part of our fourth cohort, and selected after pitching to our investment committee at the end of the fall 2023 basecamp edition.

“PFx Biotech is tackling one of the most critical and complex challenges in nutrition with remarkable vision and technical depth,” says Annick Verween, head of biotope. “This milestone represents the kind of systemic innovation we believe in at biotope. We’re proud to be early backers of founders who are reimagining our food systems through science.”

Congratulations to founders Ali Osman, Harry Barraza, and Diana Oliveira and the entire PFx team. We’re excited to see where they go next!

(PS: PFx Biotech is hiring!)