Formo
Formo is a Berlin-based precision fermentation company producing bio-identical animal-free casein protein (Formo Casein) for B2B sale to food and nutrition manufacturers serving cheese alternatives, performance nutrition, and dairy-free applications. It is the only precision-fermented casein currently in the US regulatory pipeline.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Formo does
Formo Foods GmbH is a German cell-ag company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin that develops animal-free dairy products using precision fermentation. The company's core technology engineers microorganisms to produce bio-identical milk proteins — specifically recombinant αS1-casein, branded as Formo Casein — that replicate the functional properties of conventional dairy (texture, melt, stretch, emulsification) without animal-derived inputs. The platform enables production of lactose-free, hormone-free, and whey-free dairy alternatives targeting applications in cheese alternatives (up to 25 grams per 100 grams), performance nutrition, and satiety products.
Formo operates as a B2B ingredient supplier, selling precision-fermented casein protein to food and nutrition manufacturers. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with a US commercialization partnership with RxFood Ingredients, established alongside a wholly-owned US subsidiary to support the planned commercial launch at IFT FIRST in Chicago in July 2025. The company has secured self-affirmed GRAS status in the US with formal GRAS notice GRN 1312 under active FDA review, positioning Formo as the only precision-fermented casein currently in the US regulatory pipeline. The company employs 51-100 staff, has raised approximately $146M+ across multiple funding rounds (including a $50M Series A led by EQT Ventures in 2021, a $61M round in 2024 with strategic CPG investors such as Rewe Group, and a €35M EIB facility in 2025), and has co-developed R&D with Those Vegan Cowboys for cheese applications and shared regulatory pathway efforts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and contracts are reportedly sold into 2026.
Formo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Formo
- Legal name
- Formo Foods GmbH
- Website
- https://formo.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Formo is a Berlin-based precision fermentation company producing bio-identical animal-free casein protein (Formo Casein) for B2B sale to food and nutrition manufacturers serving cheese alternatives, performance nutrition, and dairy-free applications. It is the only precision-fermented casein currently in the US regulatory pipeline.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Formo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal-free dairy protein ingredients
- NAICS
- Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing (311514)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Precision-Fermentation Dairy Analogues Processing (Animal-Free Whey/Casein Products) (AFAHAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Whey, Casein & Milk Protein Ingredient Manufacturing (AFAKAKAF), Dairy Protein Ingredients (Whey, Casein/Caseinates, Milk Protein Concentrates/Isolates) (AFAJAHAC), Casein & Caseinates Manufacturing (Acid/Rennet Casein, Sodium/Calcium Caseinate) (AFAHAFAE)
Keywords
Where Formo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Formo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- B2B Ingredient Sales: Formo sells precision-fermented casein protein ingredients to food and nutrition companies for use in cheese alternatives, performance nutrition, and dairy alternative products. Revenue derived from ingredient supply contracts with food manufacturers.
- Licensing Royalties: Commercialization partnership with RxFood Ingredients suggests licensing arrangements for Formo's GRAS-cleared casein protein technology in the US market.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Formo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Formo produces precision-fermented, bio-identical milk proteins (primarily αS1-casein under the Formo Casein brand) using engineered microorganisms. The company operates as a B2B ingredient supplier, selling these animal-free dairy proteins to food and nutrition manufacturers for use in cheese alternatives, performance nutrition, satiety applications, and other dairy-alternative products.
Product overview
Formo is a German food tech company using precision fermentation to produce bio-identical animal-free dairy proteins. The company's core product is Formo Casein, a precision-fermented αS1-casein protein that replicates the functional properties of conventional dairy casein. Formo operates as a B2B ingredient supplier targeting food and nutrition companies, with applications in performance nutrition, satiety products, and dairy alternatives. The company has established a US subsidiary and entered a commercialization partnership with RxFood Ingredients for distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Formo Casein: Bio-identical milk protein crafted by precision fermentation, delivering functionality, texture, and taste for next-generation dairy products
Quantifiable outcome
- Applications in cheese alternatives at up to 25 grams per 100 grams
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Formo
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Formo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Formo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RxFood IngredientscoreCommercialization partnership with RxFood Ingredients for US market entry of precision-fermented casein protein. Formo established a US subsidiary and entered this partnership to bring products to market.
- Those Vegan CowboyscoreFormo and Those Vegan Cowboys partnered in 2024 to collaborate on precision fermentation R&D for cheese and to speed up the regulatory pathway for recombinant αS1-casein (GRN 1312), reducing development costs through shared regulatory efforts.
- TVCminorPartnership with TVC (The Vegan Cowboys) - mentioned in press release as 'Joining Forces with TVC' for precision fermentation collaboration.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Formo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Perfect Day: Perfect Day is the leading US precision-fermentation dairy protein company producing animal-free whey via engineered microorganisms. It is the closest direct peer to Formo, both selling B2B bio-identical dairy proteins to food manufacturers, though Perfect Day targets whey while Formo targets casein.
- New Culture: New Culture is a precision-fermentation company making casein proteins (including αS1- and β-casein) for mozzarella cheese. It is a direct peer to Formo as it produces bio-identical casein via precision fermentation for cheese applications and targets the same B2B food manufacturer customers.
- Remilk: Remilk is an Israel-based precision-fermentation company producing animal-free whey and casein proteins for the dairy alternative market. It is a direct peer to Formo in technology (precision fermentation of dairy proteins) and business model (B2B ingredient supply).
- Imagindairy: Imagindairy is an Israel-based precision-fermentation startup producing animal-free dairy proteins (whey and casein) for the food and beverage industry. Direct peer to Formo in technology platform, product category and B2B GTM.
- Those Vegan Cowboys: Those Vegan Cowboys is a Belgian precision-fermentation company developing animal-free cheese proteins, and is a named R&D partner of Formo for the GRN 1312 regulatory pathway. Direct peer with overlapping technology, target market and regulatory pathway.
- Better Dairy: Better Dairy is a UK-based precision-fermentation company producing animal-free dairy proteins (casein and whey) for cheese and dairy alternatives. Direct peer to Formo in technology platform, geography (Europe) and B2B ingredient model.
- Vivici: Vivici is a Netherlands-based B2B ingredients company producing precision-fermentation dairy proteins. Direct peer to Formo as a European precision-fermentation dairy protein supplier with similar go-to-market.
- Bon Vivant: Bon Vivant is a France-based precision-fermentation company producing animal-free whey and casein proteins for dairy and nutrition applications. Direct peer to Formo in European precision-fermentation dairy proteins with overlapping target applications.
Emerging players
- Helaina: Helaina is a US precision-fermentation company producing bio-identical proteins (initially human lactoferrin) for infant nutrition and functional foods. Emerging player in adjacent precision-fermentation protein space, overlapping in technology but not direct dairy casein competition.
- Shiru: Shiru is a US precision-fermentation company developing functional protein ingredients for food applications using AI-driven discovery. Emerging player with overlapping precision-fermentation ingredient platform and B2B food industry GTM, though not focused specifically on dairy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Formo social profiles
Digital presenceFormo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Formo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Formo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Formo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Formo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors22 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Formo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Formo
What does Formo do?
Formo produces precision-fermented, bio-identical milk proteins (primarily αS1-casein under the Formo Casein brand) using engineered microorganisms. The company operates as a B2B ingredient supplier, selling these animal-free dairy proteins to food and nutrition manufacturers for use in cheese alternatives, performance nutrition, satiety applications, and other dairy-alternative products.
Is Formo a public or private company?
Formo is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Formo founded?
Formo was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Formo based?
Formo is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Formo make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. B2B Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensing Royalties.
Who are Formo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Perfect Day, New Culture, Remilk, Imagindairy, Those Vegan Cowboys, Better Dairy, Vivici and Bon Vivant. Emerging players are Helaina and Shiru.
Does Formo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Formo.
What industry is Formo in?
Formo's product category is Animal-free dairy protein ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHAJAJ, Precision-Fermentation Dairy Analogues Processing (Animal-Free Whey/Casein Products), with a secondary code of AFAKAKAF, Whey, Casein & Milk Protein Ingredient Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 3115 and its SIC code is 2020.