What DeNova does

DeNova is a Canadian aquafeed ingredient company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that develops fermentation-based protein production technology for the aquaculture industry. The company's core product is Psomi™, a low-impact novel protein ingredient designed to deliver a complete and balanced nutritional profile with a full range of essential amino acids for aquaculture species. Psomi™ is produced through a fermentation process that operates independently of environmental conditions, enabling year-round cultivation and designed for massively scalable production with lower energy and water use and minimal waste compared to traditional protein sources. The product's GHG footprint data is aligned with global climate disclosure standards, positioning it for feed producers under regulatory and decarbonization pressure.

DeNova operates as a B2B ingredient supplier targeting aquaculture feed producers globally through an enterprise field sales motion and collaborative partnerships that span ingredient testing, commercially representative feed trials, and market readiness support. The company has built a deep R&D and capital ecosystem anchored by partnerships with Ocean Supercluster, National Research Council Canada (NRC) through the Aquatic Crop Resource Development Research Centre, Dalhousie University, ACOA, Alberta Innovates, Wittaya Aqua, ONDA, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Its investor base includes Cuna del Mar, Hatch Blue, BDC Climate Tech Fund, and Sandpiper Ventures, with each placing a representative on the board.

The company is venture-backed and pre- or early-commercialization, with five disclosed funding rounds between 2020 and 2023 totaling approximately $9M and a full executive team led by Founder & CEO Brianna Orr Stratton. The board and advisory bench include Dr. Niels Alsted (Past EVP, BioMar), Michael Crothers (Past President & Country Chair, Shell Canada), Dr. Gunnar Kleppe (Past VP R&D, Norferm), and Dr. Darian McBain (Global Sustainability Expert), reflecting a deliberate concentration of aquaculture industry and sustainability expertise.

Name

DeNova

Legal name

DeNova

Website

https://denova.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DeNova is a Halifax-based aquafeed ingredient company that produces Psomi™, a fermentation-derived novel protein for aquaculture feed producers, targeting lower-impact, year-round protein supply aligned with climate disclosure standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Feed Ingredients

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Proteins & Functional Nutrition Ingredients (Plant/Animal Proteins, Collagen, Amino Acids) (CRADAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Amino Acids & Peptides (BCAAs, Collagen Peptides, Bioactive Peptides, L-Theanine) (AFAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Aquaculture feed ingredients
• Fermentation protein production
• Sustainable aquafeed nutrition
• Single cell protein
• Novel feed protein ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Psomi Ingredient Sales: Sale of Psomi, a novel protein ingredient for aquaculture feed. The company develops scalable aquafeed ingredients designed to meet feed producer needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DeNova develops and sells Psomi™, a fermentation-produced, low-impact novel protein ingredient specifically designed for the aquaculture feed industry. The ingredient provides a complete and balanced nutritional profile with a full range of essential amino acids to support optimal growth, health, and performance in aquaculture species, and is produced via a scalable fermentation process that operates year-round independent of environmental conditions.

Product overview

DeNova is a single-product company offering Psomi™, a low-impact protein ingredient for the aquaculture feed industry. The product provides complete and balanced nutrition with essential amino acids for aquaculture species. DeNova positions itself as a B2B ingredient supplier to feed producers, offering collaborative partnerships from ingredient testing through market readiness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Psomi: A low-impact novel ingredient specifically developed for the aquaculture industry. Psomi is a nutrient-dense, protein-packed ingredient providing a complete and balanced nutritional profile with essential amino acids, supporting optimal growth, health, and performance in aquaculture species. It is designed for massively scalable production with year-round cultivation through a fermentation process.

Products and services

• Psomi™ Psomi™ is a low-impact novel protein ingredient specifically developed for the aquaculture feed industry. It is nutrient-dense and protein-packed, providing a complete and balanced nutritional profile with a full range of essential amino acids to support optimal growth, health, and performance in aquaculture species. It is produced via a scalable fermentation process that operates independently of environmental conditions, enabling year-round cultivation, and is sold to aquaculture feed producers for use in commercial feed formulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced environmental footprint through fermentation-powered production using less energy
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ocean SuperclustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development partnership for aquaculture innovation and sustainable protein solutions.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D partnership through the Aquatic Crop Resource Development Research Centre for developing aquaculture ingredients.
• ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal development agency partnership supporting Atlantic Canada innovation in aquaculture technology.
• Alberta InnovatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial research and innovation partnership supporting sustainable technology development.
• Dalhousie UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through Aquaculture Nutrition research collaboration for ingredient development.
• Wittaya AquaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership focused on aquaculture nutrition and feed formulation.
• ONDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partnership supporting sustainable aquaculture practices.
• Nature Conservancy of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership supporting sustainable protein production without impacting sensitive ecosystems.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Calysta: US-based producer of FeedKind single-cell protein via natural gas fermentation for aquaculture and livestock feed. Closely comparable in fermentation-based protein technology and aquafeed target market.
• NovoNutrients: US startup converting industrial CO2 emissions into protein ingredients for aquafeed and pet food via gas fermentation. Same core technology approach (gas-to-protein fermentation) and same end market.
• KnipBio: Developer of single-cell protein ingredients (formerly KnipBio Meal) for aquafeed using microbial fermentation. Direct competitor focused on replacing fishmeal in aquaculture diets.
• Unibio: Danish gas-fermentation company producing Uniprotein, a single-cell protein for animal and aquafeed from methane. Direct competitor to DeNova's Psomi on fermentation-based protein ingredients targeting aquafeed.
• String Bio: India-based gas fermentation company producing single-cell protein for animal and aquafeed using methane. Comparable technology platform and target segment as DeNova.

Broad incumbents

• Skretting (Nutreco): Global aquafeed leader (part of Nutreco/SHV) and a primary buyer of novel aquafeed ingredients. Comparable as the dominant downstream customer shaping adoption of alternative proteins like Psomi.
• Corbion: Global ingredient company (algae-based and fermentation-based ingredients) with adjacencies into aquaculture and animal nutrition. Comparable as a larger, established supplier of sustainable protein/functional ingredients.
• BioMar: One of the world's largest aquafeed manufacturers, with active alternative-protein programs. Comparable as the dominant customer/prospect channel for DeNova and the former employer of DeNova board director Dr. Niels Alsted.
• Cargill Aqua Nutrition: Major aquafeed producer with its own alternative-protein investments. Comparable as a large incumbent feed producer and potential customer or competitor to DeNova.

Emerging players

• DeepBranch: UK-based company using gas fermentation (Proton™ process) to produce single-cell protein for animal feed from industrial CO2. Closely comparable emerging player using similar gas-to-protein platform targeting feed markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/denova-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/denovaprotein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors6 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 DeNova