Sandra Wingaard Thrane, CSO and Co-founder Bactolife; Sebastian Søderberg, CEO, Bactolife; Sophia Heyde, Vice President, Planetary Health, Novo Holdings; and Sara Sande, Green Transition and Partner, EIFO. Image: Bactolife
Bactolife, a Copenhagen-based biosolutions company developing binding proteins for gut health, has raised over €30 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Cross Border Impact Ventures (CBIV) and EIFO (Danish Export and Investment Fund), with continued participation from existing investors Novo Holdings and Athos. The Gates Foundation is also a cornerstone investor.
The company will use the funding to commercialize its Binding Protein technology under the ingredient brand Helm and execute human studies across the United States, EU, Asia, and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Bactolife plans to launch its first products for human health in the United States in 2026, with expansion into Asia and Europe to follow.
Binding Proteins are derived from natural camelid immunoglobulins and produced through precision fermentation. The proteins are designed to support intestinal resilience by binding and neutralizing unhealthy metabolites in the gut. The company describes them as milk-inspired proteins that can be incorporated into dietary supplements, functional food and beverages, and feed additives.
“Today’s successful close of our Series B round sets the stage for exciting years ahead as we prepare to launch our innovative products in 2026,” said Sebastian Søderberg, CEO of Bactolife. “This funding will enable us to clinically validate, scale, and commercialize our Binding Proteins, taking Bactolife’s solutions to a broad audience. 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. We are ready to transform gut health with novel Binding Proteins.”
The company has stated a commitment to making the technology accessible to women and children in LMICs, a focus that attracted impact-driven investors.
“We are thrilled to lead Bactolife’s Series B,” said Donna Parr, Managing Partner at Cross Border Impact Ventures. “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. At the same time, we are excited about the significant growth opportunity across North America, Europe, and Asia where the market opportunity is massive. 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.”
Sara Sande, Managing Director of Green Transition and Partner at EIFO, said: “Denmark holds a strong position in biosolutions, with exciting opportunities to build on this momentum. Bactolife demonstrates how Danish research can be transformed into solutions that benefit both people and the planet, and the company’s progress and prospects are truly impressive. We are pleased to support Bactolife and its strong team as part of a solid, international syndicate.”
Sophia Heyde, Vice President of Planetary Health Investments at Novo Holdings, added: “As the first institutional investor in Bactolife, we are very pleased to welcome Cross-Border Impact Ventures and EIFO to the investment syndicate and the Board. Bactolife has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing its novel precision biotechnology platform for establishing a healthy gut flora. We are excited that this funding round will take the company through the commercialisation of its first products, delivering meaningful benefits for both human and animal health, in line with Novo Holdings’ Planetary Health ambitions.”
Bactolife was co-founded by Sandra Wingaard Thrane, who serves as Chief Scientific Officer.
