Zymofix secures €2 million to scale microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture and beyond

Ghent, Belgium, 12th November 2024 – Zymofix, a pioneer in industrial biotechnology, has secured €2 million in funding led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from The Nest Family Office and VP Capital. This strategic investment will fuel Zymofix’s efforts to scale its proprietary fermentation technology, turning biomass residues into high-quality microorganisms for use in agricultural and industrial applications.

Turning waste into microbial gold for a sustainable future

Formerly known as N-Fix, Zymofix is revolutionizing the way microorganisms are produced, enabling sustainable solutions that improve soil health, boost agricultural productivity, and reduce environmental impact.

At the core of Zymofix’s technology is its innovative use of biomass residues—such as agricultural waste—to cultivate beneficial microorganisms through a novel solid-state fermentation process. These microbes can enhance plant health, degrade pollutants, and even replace traditional chemical processes in a variety of industries.

By leveraging low-cost, locally sourced biomass, Zymofix aims to significantly lower manufacturing costs, making microbial solutions economically viable even for row crops such as maize, wheat and sugar beet. Zymofix’s technology is versatile, scalable, and locally adaptable, offering tailored solutions for sectors like agriculture, waste treatment, and industrial bioremediation.

Zymofix: microorganisms, macro solutions

Since its inception, Zymofix has been focussed on creating microbial solutions that address global challenges.

“Our mission is to scale the production of beneficial microorganisms, transforming waste into valuable resources that foster ecosystem regeneration,” says Emile Redant, CEO of Zymofix. “This investment will enable us to bring our high-quality, scalable biosolutions to market faster and enable their widespread adoption, driving positive impact on planetary health.”

The infusion of new capital allows Zymofix to continue scaling up its innovative fermentation platform, and start commercialising products in collaboration with corporate partners. The company is expanding its team to support its rapid growth, aiming to hire four new employees in the next quarter, particularly in R&D and project management.

A bright future with strategic investors

Guy De Clercq, co-founder and chairman of the board of directors, expressed his excitement about Zymofix’s progress: “It's incredibly rewarding to see Zymofix mature into the company it is already today. We are particularly thrilled to welcome the highly valued investors HTGF, The Nest and VP Capital, whose focus on sustainable growth perfectly aligns with our mission. Their support will be instrumental in helping us scale our technology and achieve our long-term vision of transforming agriculture and industrial processes through microbial innovation.”

Investing in a sustainable future

The investors share Zymofix’s vision of driving the bioeconomy forward.

“Zymofix has developed a unique technology platform that transforms low-value biomass residues into high-quality microorganisms with a broad range of applications. Their scalable solutions are a great example of circular economy principles in action, and we’re confident in both the disruptive potential of the technology and the team's ability to execute,” said Natalya Baltrukovich, Investment Manager at HTGF.

“At VP Capital, we believe that, by investing together in these types of innovative circular solutions, we can accelerate positive impact for a better future for generations to come. Zymofix’s innovative approach to transforming biomass residues into valuable microbial products aligns perfectly with our aim to foster these much-needed ecological solutions. This investment is a critical step toward creating tangible, scalable impact, not just for the agricultural sector, but for the planet as a whole,” said Mathijs van der Knaap Investment Manager at VP Capital

"We are thrilled to partner with Zymofix in their journey to reshape agriculture through circular solutions. By turning waste into resources, Zymofix exemplifies the resilience and innovation that are key to building a healthier and more sustainable food system. Our shared vision for healthy ecosystems, more nutritious food production, and a farmer-first approach makes this partnership a natural fit," said Hallie Fox, Senior Investment Associate of The Nest.

“Zymofix’s journey from concept to commercialization has been truly inspiring. Their commitment to turning waste into sustainable, high-impact solutions based on solid science perfectly aligns with our mission of nurturing impactful biotech innovations. We are proud to have supported their early development and are excited to see the impact they will make,” said Annick Verween, Head of biotope^{by VIB} and Zymofix Board member.

About Zymofix
​​
​Founded as N-Fix, Zymofix specializes in scaling the production of beneficial microorganisms by fermenting biomass residues. The company was supported in its pre-seed stage by biotope^{by VIB}, which helped Zymofix successfully develop its proprietary technology platform. With its cutting-edge technology and a strong foundation in industrial biotechnology, Zymofix is well-positioned to tackle global challenges in agriculture, bioremediation, and other key industries.
​​
​For more information, visit Zymofix.com or contact Emile.Redant@Zymofix.com
​​
​

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
​​
​HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of deep tech, industrial tech, climate tech, digital tech, life sciences and chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in the pre-seed and seed phase and can make significant investments in further financing rounds. Across all funds, HTGF has over EUR 2 billion under management. Since its foundation in 2005, it has financed more than 750 start-ups and successfully sold shares in over 180 companies. Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, KfW Capital and 45 companies.
​​
​More information can be found at HTGF.de or on LinkedIn.
​​
​

About VP Capital
​​
​VP Capital is a single family office based in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Van Puijenbroek family started their activities over 159 years ago. Our current strategy is an impact-first strategy that aims to contribute to biodiversity, the climate, and social equality, by focusing on regenerative, circular, biobased, net-zero, toxicity free and inclusive solutions. Today we manage a diversified portfolio with an allround team in all asset classes, including ventures. In our venture portfolio we focus on the domains energy transition, agrifood, clean technology, textile and built environment. VP Capital is B Corp-certified, a certified CO2 neutral company and our CO2 reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
​​
​More information can be found at vpcapital.eu or on LinkedIn.
​​
​

About The Nest
​​
​The Nest is a first-generation, single-family office based in Belgium with the mission to help create a more resilient food system, centered around the core belief that food is medicine for both people and nature. To achieve this mission, The Nest invests across asset classes with a portfolio of more than 30 funds, mature companies, philanthropic initiatives, and early-stage startups across North America and Europe. The team at The Nest is driven to create a healthy and fair world for generations to come by supporting solutions that transform the broken food system into a resilient ecosystem that regenerates the environment and produces nutrient rich foods, while ensuring a sustainable livelihood for farmers.
​​
​More information can be found at thenestfo.com or on LinkedIn.
​​
​

About biotope^{by VIB}
​​
​Biotope is an incubator program and early-stage investor for biotech teams wanting to turn their next-gen, sustainable innovation into successful startups. Run by VIB and based in Belgium, biotope supports early stage biotech startups developing sustainable solutions for agriculture, food, and materials, bringing them to seed stage readiness within 18 months. Right from the start, the incubator and its associated fund Biotope Ventures provide significant pre-seed funding and work hands-on with a small cohort, helping teams transform their innovative technologies into businesses ready for seed funding.
​​
​More information can be found at www.biotope-incubator.com or on LinkedIn.