Time-Travelling Milkman

What Time-Travelling Milkman does

Time-Travelling Milkman B.V. (TTM) is a Dutch B2B foodtech company founded in 2020 as a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research. The company develops and sells plant-based functional ingredients derived from sunflower seeds using a patented, water-only oleosome extraction process that preserves natural oil droplet structures. Its product portfolio comprises three trademarked ingredients: OleocreamTTM (a dairy cream replacer delivering dairy-like creaminess for plant-based and hybrid dairy applications), SunfloProTTM (a non-allergenic protein-rich texturizer for emulsification, foaming, and gelling), and SunPulpTTM (a fiber- and protein-rich ingredient for plant-based meat and dairy). The technology claims over 80% lower emissions than conventional dairy fat and relies on natural oxidative stability from co-extracted phenolics, eliminating the need for synthetic antioxidants.

The company operates a sales-led, enterprise B2B go-to-market targeting food manufacturers, plant-based dairy producers, hybrid dairy players, and meat alternative producers across Europe. Distribution is direct-to-manufacturer through field sales, with a website-based sample-request funnel that converts into commercial trials and multi-year supply contracts. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Production has scaled to approximately 1,000 tonnes per year of Oleocream, with a stated long-term target of 10,000 tonnes per year. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time ingredient sales, with a secondary licensing/royalty stream around the patented extraction process. Geographic reach is currently Europe-only, although investor Alianza Team opens a potential Latin American/US corridor.

TTM has raised approximately €4M+ across seed (2021, €555K from Oost NL and SHIFT Invest), seed extension (February 2024, €850K led by Alianza Team), and pre-Series A (September 2025, €2M led by Sparkalis/Puratos and Evercurious) rounds, supplemented by EU grants (EFRO Oost RevOLEOtion project, EIT Food Sunflopro project). In March 2026, the company transitioned from an R&D-led to a commercially-led organization with the appointment of Matthijs Sillevis Smitt as CEO, while founder Dimitris Karefyllakis moved to Growth & Innovation Director. Awards include the 2024 Best Food & Agri Start-up (Protein Trends) nomination and the 2025 Food Ingredients Europe Innovation Award nomination in Dairy Alternative Ingredients.

Name

Time-Travelling Milkman

Legal name

Time-travelling Milkman B.V.

Website

https://timetravellingmilkman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Time-Travelling Milkman is a Dutch B2B foodtech company that produces patented plant-based creaminess ingredients (OleocreamTTM, SunfloProTTM, SunPulpTTM) from sunflower seed oleosomes for European plant-based and hybrid dairy manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-Based Food Ingredients

NAICS

Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant-Based Dairy-Alternative Ingredients & Bases Manufacturing (Emulsions, Fat Systems, Protein/Starch Bases for B2B) (AFAHAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Plant-Based Barista & Foodservice Formulations (Foaming/Steaming Milks, Culinary Creams) (AFAHAJAG)

Keywords

• Plant-based ingredients
• Oleosome technology
• Dairy alternatives
• Sunflower seed processing
• Food ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Wageningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ingredient Sales (B2B): Sale of Oleocream, SunfloPro, and SunPulp ingredients to food manufacturers, dairy alternative producers, and meat alternative companies. Revenue generated through direct B2B contracts with food manufacturers across Europe.
2. Ingredient Licensing: Technology licensing of patented oleosome extraction process to food manufacturing partners. Patented process enables production of creaminess ingredients for dairy alternatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Time-Travelling Milkman manufactures and sells plant-based functional food ingredients (Oleocream, SunfloPro, SunPulp) derived from European sunflower seeds using proprietary oleosome extraction technology. These ingredients serve as clean-label, allergen-free dairy cream replacers and texturizers for plant-based and hybrid dairy and meat product manufacturers. The company operates a B2B ingredient supply model targeting food manufacturers across Europe.

Product overview

Time-Travelling Milkman is a B2B foodtech company that develops oleosome-based functional ingredients from European sunflower seeds for the plant-based and hybrid dairy industry. Their portfolio consists of three main products: Oleocream™ (a dairy cream replacer providing creaminess and texture), SunfloPro™ (a protein-rich texturizer for emulsification and structure), and SunPulp™ (a fiber-rich ingredient for nutritional enhancement). These ingredients are produced using a patented, water-only process that extracts natural fat droplet structures called oleosomes from sunflower seeds, enabling clean-label, sustainable alternatives to dairy fats and tropical oils without compromising on taste or functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OleocreamTTM: A sustainable dairy cream replacer made from sunflower seeds and water. Clean-label, allergen-free, rich in unsaturated fats.
• SunfloProTTM
• SunPulpTTM

Products and services

• Oleocream™

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% lower product emissions than conventional dairy fat
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Collaboration on Sunflopro project (EIT Food, EU co-funded) to valorize sunflower fat production sidestreams into plant-based protein powder. VTT brings expertise in techno-functional and sensory property evaluation of new protein ingredients.
• NIZO Food ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Consortium partner in RevOLEOtion project with EU Regional Development Fund (EFRO Oost) funding. NIZO optimizes production processes, validates biopurification technology to improve flavor, and conducts sensory analysis for consumer acceptance of OleoCream, OleoPowder, and SunPulp ingredients.
• DuyniecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Consortium partner in RevOLEOtion project focusing on valorising side-streams from TTM's production process. Duynie applies innovative technologies on co-products for food, feed, and biogas applications, leveraging their expertise in circular economy solutions.
• The Protein Community (TPC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2023Partner organization that powered the Future Protein NL booth at Food Ingredients Europe 2023, supported by OostNL, Go4Export, and Topsector. TTM showcased Oleocream alongside 11 other Dutch food innovation companies.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution and spin-off origin. TTM was founded as a spin-off from WUR in 2020. Co-founders developed oleosome technology during research at WUR. Ongoing research collaboration including 2025 study on oxidative stability of sunflower oleosomes published by WUR researchers.
• StartlifeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStartup incubator associated with Wageningen University. TTM is a Startlife Alumni, having graduated from the Startlife Accelerate program in Spring 2020.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AAK: AAK is a leading specialty oils and fats company supplying plant-based dairy alternatives, ice cream, and bakery ingredients globally. Direct comparable as a B2B supplier of specialty vegetable fat systems serving the same plant-based dairy and food manufacturer customer base that TTM targets with Oleocream.

Broad incumbents

• Bunge: Bunge is one of the world's largest oilseed processors with deep sunflower processing operations across Europe and South America. Comparable as an oilseed-derived ingredient supplier and competitor for sunflower-based specialty ingredients, though far broader in scope than TTM.
• Cargill: Cargill is a global agricultural commodity and food ingredient giant with significant presence in plant-based proteins, oils, and dairy alternative ingredient systems. Comparable as an incumbent ingredient supplier that food manufacturers may choose over TTM for plant-based dairy formulations.
• Ingredion: Ingredion is a major global ingredient provider specializing in plant-based starches, sweeteners, and proteins for food manufacturers. Comparable as a B2B supplier of plant-based functional ingredients to the same food manufacturer customer base, including dairy alternative producers.
• Kerry Group: Kerry Group is a global taste and nutrition company supplying ingredients to food and beverage manufacturers across dairy, bakery, and meat alternative categories. Comparable as a large incumbent offering functional ingredient systems for plant-based and hybrid dairy applications.
• dsm-firmenich: dsm-firmenich is a global nutrition, health, and specialty ingredients company with significant presence in plant-based proteins, enzymes, and food fortification. Comparable as a science-driven specialty ingredient supplier serving plant-based food manufacturers globally.
• Puratos: Puratos is a global bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredient company whose venture arm Sparkalis led TTM's €2M pre-Series A. Direct strategic relationship as both investor and potential commercialization partner; comparable as a large specialty ingredient supplier serving the bakery and dairy alternative markets.
• Corbion: Corbion is a global food ingredients and biobased company with strong presence in lactic acid, preservatives, and sustainable food solutions including algae-based ingredients. Comparable as a specialty ingredient supplier focused on clean-label and sustainable food solutions for B2B customers.

Emerging players

• Motif FoodWorks: Motif FoodWorks is a foodtech startup developing plant-based protein and fat ingredients for meat and dairy alternatives using proprietary technology. Comparable as a similarly-sized emerging player focused on next-generation plant-based functional ingredients for food manufacturers.
• Shiru: Shiru is a foodtech startup using AI and precision fermentation to discover and develop novel plant-based protein ingredients for food manufacturers. Comparable as an emerging ingredient technology startup targeting the same plant-based food manufacturer customer base with novel functional ingredients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ttm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/time-travelling-milkman

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Time-Travelling Milkman