What Yeastup does

Yeastup AG is a Swiss food technology company founded in 2020 that upcycles spent brewer's yeast, a low-value by-product of the beer-brewing process, into functional protein and fiber ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and pet nutrition industries. The company's core technology is a patented and patent-pending resource-efficient process that continuously separates soluble proteins and fibers from spent brewer's yeast without harsh chemicals, isolating protein, beta-glucan, and mannoprotein while recovering water and removing bitter compounds. This platform underpins two branded product lines: Yeastin® (functional yeast proteins with variants PRIME for egg-free baking and emulsions, NUTRA for sports nutrition with up to 84% protein content, and UMAMI+ for plant-based meat alternatives) and UpFiber® (beta-glucan fibers including UpFiber Beta-Glucan at up to 85% purity, UpFiber CP for beauty-from-within applications, UpFiber MAX for prebiotic beverages, and BGV for pet supplements).

Yeastup operates a B2B ingredient business model, selling directly to food manufacturers, supplement brands, and nutraceutical companies, while also offering white-label and private-label nutrition solutions (protein bars, gummies, functional drinks, powders, and capsules) that enable faster market entry for customer brands. Distribution is structured around direct enterprise sales supplemented by an exclusive partnership with DKSH for UpFiber Beta-Glucan in the DACH region. The company's industrial-scale production facility in Lyss, Canton of Bern, repurposed from a former Cremo dairy factory, has capacity to process 4,000 liters per hour with planned annual throughput of 2,000 tonnes of brewer's yeast; regular production began in early 2026. Sustainability credentials are third-party validated, including a Life Cycle Assessment by FHNW showing up to 81% lower environmental footprint than pea and beef protein, and a preclinical longevity study with Nagi Bioscience at EPFL Innovation Park.

The company is privately held and venture-backed, having raised approximately $9.9 million (CHF 8.9M) in a Series A round in late 2024 from Angels House, Beyond Impact, Gentian Investments, Newtree Impact, and SICTIC. Headcount is approximately 16 employees at the Lyss production facility, with the legal entity (Yeastup AG) registered in Brugg, Switzerland. Yeastup's strategic focus is on scaling commercial production, expanding distribution across Europe, and growing its portfolio of value-added ingredient and white-label solutions for B2B customers in sports nutrition, supplements, functional foods, and pet nutrition.

Name

Yeastup

Legal name

Yeastup AG

Website

https://yeastup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yeastup is a Swiss food tech company that upcycles spent brewer's yeast into functional yeast proteins (Yeastin®) and beta-glucan fibers (UpFiber®) for food manufacturers, supplement brands, and pet nutrition companies, selling B2B ingredients and white-label solutions from its Lyss production facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Functional Food Ingredients

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultures, Probiotics & Fermentation Ingredients (Starter Cultures, Yeast, Adjuncts) (CRADAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enzymes & Processing Aids (Baking, Brewing, Dairy, Meat) (CRADAOAH)

Keywords

• Yeast protein ingredients
• Beta-glucan supplements
• Upcycled food ingredients
• Plant-based proteins
• Functional food ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Brugg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ingredient sales (Yeastin and UpFiber): Yeastup sells its proprietary yeast-derived protein and fiber ingredients (Yeastin and UpFiber) directly to food and supplement manufacturers. Ingredients are sold for use in bakery, sports nutrition, supplements, functional foods, meat alternatives, and cosmetics applications. The company offers ingredients, compounds, and white-label finished products.
2. White-label and private-label product solutions: Ready-to-go concepts across sports nutrition, supplements, and functional foods (protein bars, gummies, functional drinks, powders, capsules) are offered under customer brands, providing faster time-to-market for clients.
3. Technology and process licensing: The company has developed patented processes and proprietary technology around upcycling brewer's yeast, which may be licensed to other producers or used in partnership arrangements.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yeastup upcycles spent brewer's yeast into two proprietary ingredient lines: Yeastin® functional yeast proteins (variants PRIME, NUTRA, UMAMI+) for baking, sports nutrition, and meat alternatives, and UpFiber® beta-glucan fibers for immune, gut, and healthy-aging applications. The company also offers white-label and private-label finished nutrition products including protein bars, gummies, functional drinks, powders, and capsules, sold B2B to food manufacturers and supplement brands.

Product overview

Yeastup is a Swiss food tech startup that upcycles spent brewer's yeast into functional ingredients. The company offers two core product lines: Yeastin® (functional yeast proteins including PRIME for baking, NUTRA for sports nutrition, and UMAMI+ for meat alternatives) and UpFiber® (beta-glucan fibers including Beta-Glucan for supplements and BGV for pet applications). Additionally, Yeastup provides white-label nutrition solutions for brands looking to launch products quickly. The products work together to provide texturizing, emulsification, and nutritional functionality to food and supplement manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yeastin®: Functional yeast protein solutions for baking, emulsions, plant-based foods, and sports nutrition applications
• UpFiber®
• Yeastup® BGV
• UpFiber® CP

Products and services

• Yeastin® PRIME Functional yeast protein that provides egg-like binding, structure, and stability for egg-free bakery recipes, emulsions (such as vegan mayonnaise and dressings), and clean-label food formulations. Designed for food manufacturers seeking vegan, allergen-free texturizing solutions.
• Yeastin® NUTRA Neutral, highly soluble protein blend with up to 84% protein content, designed for high-protein bars, functional foods, and ready-to-mix sports nutrition drinks. Targets sports nutrition and supplement brands needing clean-label, vegan protein.
• Yeastin® UMAMI+ Functional yeast protein that enhances taste and texture in plant-based meat alternatives, providing natural umami depth, juicy bite, and improved binding without additives. Designed for clean-label meat alternative manufacturers.
• UpFiber® Beta-Glucan Highly purified yeast-derived Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan with up to 85% purity and less than 1% alpha-glucan. Supports immune health, gut health, and healthy aging applications. Designed for nutraceutical, supplement, and functional food manufacturers.
• UpFiber® CP Ready-to-use blend combining collagen peptides with UpFiber® Beta-Glucan for beauty-from-within and immune health applications. Targeted at science-driven gummy and supplement concepts.
• UpFiber® MAX Functional fiber ingredient for prebiotic wellness drinks, delivering up to 3g prebiotic fiber per serving with smooth solubility. Designed for supplement and functional beverage brands.
• Yeastup® BGV (Beta-Glucan for Pets) Premium yeast-derived beta-glucan with up to 80% purity, designed for pet supplements and functional treats. Supports immunity, gut health, and vitality in pets. Targets pet nutrition brands.
• Yeastin® RTM (Ready-to-Mix) Plant and yeast protein blend with smooth solubility and neutral taste for ready-to-mix protein drink formulations. Vegan-friendly and clean-label. Targets sports nutrition drink brands.
• White-Label and Private-Label Nutrition Solutions Ready-to-go finished product concepts across sports nutrition, supplements, and functional foods including protein bars, gummies, functional drinks, powders, and capsules. Customers add their own brand for faster market entry. Targeted at brands seeking accelerated product launches.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 85% beta-glucan purity (UpFiber Beta-Glucan)
• +6 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DKSHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2026Yeastup signed an exclusive distribution agreement with DKSH, a market expansion specialist, to sell its UpFiber Beta-Glucan ingredient in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). DKSH provides business development, marketing, sales, logistics, and distribution services for the upcycled dietary fibre ingredient containing up to 85% beta-glucan content.
• WeenaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Yeastup partnered with Weena to launch yeast protein bars, combining Yeastin's protein functionality with Weena's brand and market presence in the sports and nutrition bar segment.
• Nagi BioscienceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Independent preclinical study conducted by Nagi Bioscience at EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, evaluating UpFiber Beta-Glucan across the full lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Results showed dose-dependent effects on biological age, motility, intestinal health, and reproductive healthspan.
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2024Years of collaborative research with FHNW to develop Yeastup's patented process for upcycling spent brewer's yeast. FHNW conducted Life Cycle Assessment demonstrating up to 81% lower environmental footprint than pea and beef protein.
• CremominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2024Cremo, Switzerland's second-largest milk producer, sold a former dairy factory to Yeastup, which was repurposed as the company's industrial-scale production facility in Lyss, Switzerland. This facility houses the upcycling production line with capacity of 4,000 liters per hour.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Lesaffre: World's largest yeast producer with a broad portfolio of yeast extracts, beta-glucans and fermentation ingredients. Directly competes with Yeastup in yeast-derived proteins and fibers but operates at far greater scale across food, nutrition and animal feed.
• dsm-firmenich: Global nutrition and health ingredients major, owner of the Wellmune yeast beta-glucan brand. Competes head-to-head with UpFiber in immune-health beta-glucans and brings massive B2B distribution and clinical evidence firepower.
• Angel Yeast: Large Chinese yeast manufacturer producing yeast extracts and fermentation ingredients for food and nutrition. A scale competitor to Yeastup's Yeastin and UpFiber ingredient lines in global B2B channels.
• Lallemand Bio-Ingredients: Specialist in yeast-based ingredients including beta-glucans and yeast extracts for food and supplement applications. Closest functional analog to Yeastup among the major incumbents.
• Ohly (ABF Ingredients): Producer of yeast extracts and savory flavors for food applications. Competes with Yeastup's UMAMI+ yeast protein in savory and meat-alternative formulations.
• Kerry Group: Global taste and nutrition company with beta-glucan and functional ingredient offerings across food, beverage and supplement applications. Competes with UpFiber in fiber and immune-health positioning.
• Biorigin: Producer of yeast-based ingredients including beta-glucans (MOS) and yeast extracts for food, nutrition and pet applications. Direct competitor to UpFiber in immune-health fibers and to Yeastup BGV in pet nutrition.

Direct peers

• Revyve: Dutch food-tech startup upcycling brewer's yeast into functional protein ingredients (similar to Yeastin) for bakery, snacks and meat alternatives. Closest like-for-like competitor in upcycled yeast protein.

Emerging players

• Cultivated Biosciences: Early-stage startup producing yeast-based fat alternatives for the food industry. Overlaps with Yeastup's fermentation-based upcycling approach but targets a different functional problem (fat replacement vs. protein/fiber).
• Mycorena: Swedish food-tech using fungal fermentation (mycoprotein) to produce sustainable protein ingredients. Comparable as a fermentation-based alternative-protein company targeting B2B food manufacturers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors5 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 Yeastup