NovoNutrients
NovoNutrients is a Sunnyvale-based synthetic biology startup that uses proprietary fermentation and genetically engineered bacteria to convert industrial CO2 emissions into protein powders for food, animal feed, and aquaculture markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NovoNutrients does
NovoNutrients is a synthetic biology startup founded in 2017 and based in Sunnyvale, California, that is developing an industrial fermentation platform to convert carbon dioxide emissions into protein powders suitable for human food, animal feed, and aquaculture applications. The company's core technology uses genetically engineered bacterial strains cultivated in bioreactors to perform CO2-to-protein bioconversion, producing protein that can be sold to food, ingredient, and feed manufacturers, as well as to industrial CO2 emitters such as cement and chemical plants that the company targets as both feedstock suppliers and commercial partners.
The company is currently building a pilot-scale plant intended to demonstrate the technology at industrial scale, produce validation samples for partners, and support commercial offtake negotiations. NovoNutrients has raised approximately $26 million across multiple funding rounds, including a $300,000 DOE grant in 2019, a $4.7 million round led by Happiness Capital in 2021, a $3 million development agreement with Woodside Energy in 2023, and an $18 million round co-led by CM Venture Capital and Woodside Energy in 2024. The company operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees.
The business model centers on B2B enterprise sales of protein powders derived from CO2, with the company targeting large industrial counterparties including food manufacturers, aquaculture feed companies, and industrial CO2 emitters. The go-to-market relies on strategic partnerships and co-located pilot plants at industrial partner sites rather than traditional marketing channels. Revenue from protein powder sales has not yet commenced at commercial scale, and pricing is not publicly disclosed.
NovoNutrients firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NovoNutrients
- Website
- https://novonutrients.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- NovoNutrients is a Sunnyvale-based synthetic biology startup that uses proprietary fermentation and genetically engineered bacteria to convert industrial CO2 emissions into protein powders for food, animal feed, and aquaculture markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NovoNutrients industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Protein Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation) (AFAKAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bio-based Animal Feed Ingredients & Nutrition Co-products (e.g., DDGS, protein meals, yeast) (EUAAAIAI), Cultures, Probiotics & Fermentation Ingredients (Starter Cultures, Yeast, Adjuncts) (CRADAOAI)
Keywords
Where NovoNutrients is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
NovoNutrients business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Protein Powder Sales: Sale of protein powders produced from CO2 conversion for use in human food, animal feed, and aquaculture (fish consumption). The company produces protein products through industrial fermentation and sells them to food, feed, and ingredient manufacturers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
NovoNutrients product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NovoNutrients runs an industrial fermentation platform that uses genetically engineered bacterial strains in bioreactors to convert industrial CO2 emissions into protein powders. The resulting proteins are intended for use in human food, animal feed, and aquaculture (fish feed). The company is scaling from pilot-plant validation toward industrial-scale production and targets industrial polluters such as cement and chemical plants as feedstock sources.
Product overview
NovoNutrients offers a single unified product platform focused on converting CO2 emissions into protein through industrial fermentation technology. Their core technology uses genetically engineered bacterial strains in bioreactors to transform carbon dioxide from industrial sources (such as cement and chemical plants) into protein powders. The company is scaling from pilot-scale operations toward industrial-scale production, targeting the alternative protein market for food, animal feed, and aquaculture applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CO2-to-Protein Conversion Platform A proprietary industrial fermentation platform that converts carbon dioxide emissions into protein powders using genetically engineered bacterial strains cultivated in bioreactors. The protein powders are designed for human food, animal feed, and aquaculture applications, and the company is building pilot-scale facilities to scale toward industrial production.
Quantifiable outcome
- Significant reduction in industrial CO2 emissions
Companies that use NovoNutrients
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NovoNutrients technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
NovoNutrients partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NovoNutrients competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Air Protein: Air Protein converts CO2 from industrial emitters into single-cell protein using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. Directly comparable to NovoNutrients in feedstock, fermentation architecture, and target applications in food/feed.
- Solar Foods: Solar Foods produces Solein, a single-cell protein from CO2, water, and renewable electricity via gas fermentation. Most direct competitor to NovoNutrients given identical CO2-to-protein platform and overlap on food and feed end-markets.
- Calysta: Calysta produces FeedKind, a gas-fermented single-cell protein (methane-based) for aquaculture and animal feed. Comparable gas-fermentation alternative-protein platform targeting overlapping feed and aquaculture customers.
- Deep Branch Biotechnology: Deep Branch uses gas fermentation to convert CO2 and industrial gases into single-cell protein (Protin) for animal nutrition. Closest peer in terms of CO2 feedstock and feed-industry focus.
- Unibio: Unibio produces Uniprotein via methane fermentation for aquaculture and animal feed. Comparable single-cell protein platform targeting the same aquaculture/feed customers as NovoNutrients.
Broad incumbents
- LanzaTech: LanzaTech operates the largest commercial gas-fermentation platform in operation today, converting waste gases (CO, CO2) into fuels and chemicals via acetogen bacteria. Broader and better-capitalized incumbent in the same underlying gas-fermentation technology stack.
Emerging players
- String Bio: String Bio uses methane and gas fermentation (StringPro platform) to produce alternative protein and specialty ingredients. Comparable emerging gas-fermentation alternative-protein company, though primarily methane-fed rather than CO2.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NovoNutrients social profiles
Digital presenceNovoNutrients financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NovoNutrients leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
NovoNutrients funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NovoNutrients 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 NovoNutrients
What does NovoNutrients do?
NovoNutrients runs an industrial fermentation platform that uses genetically engineered bacterial strains in bioreactors to convert industrial CO2 emissions into protein powders. The resulting proteins are intended for use in human food, animal feed, and aquaculture (fish feed). The company is scaling from pilot-plant validation toward industrial-scale production and targets industrial polluters such as cement and chemical plants as feedstock sources.
Is NovoNutrients a public or private company?
NovoNutrients is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was NovoNutrients founded?
NovoNutrients was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is NovoNutrients based?
NovoNutrients is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does NovoNutrients make money?
One revenue line is on record: protein Powder Sales.
Who are NovoNutrients's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Air Protein, Solar Foods, Calysta, Deep Branch Biotechnology and Unibio. LanzaTech is listed as a broad incumbent. String Bio is listed as an emerging player.
Does NovoNutrients have an API?
No public API is recorded for NovoNutrients.
What industry is NovoNutrients in?
NovoNutrients's product category is Alternative Protein Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAGAH, Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation), with a secondary code of EUAAAIAI, Bio-based Animal Feed Ingredients & Nutrition Co-products (e.g., DDGS, protein meals, yeast). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.