What Phycom does

Phycom is a Dutch B2B microalgae ingredient producer founded in 2009 and headquartered in Veenendaal, Netherlands. The company cultivates and sells four core microalgae strains — Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris, Golden Chlorella, and Parachl. kessleri — as powders to food manufacturers, nutraceutical companies, and animal feed producers across Europe. Its product portfolio is organised into three application categories: algae for food (meat analogues, dairy alternatives, smoothies and juices, noodles, pasta, bakery products), algae for nutraceuticals, and algae for animal feed (broiler, aquaculture, and livestock nutrition).

Phycom's core technology is a proprietary heterotrophic fermentation process run in modular, large-scale bioreactors with 24/7 autonomous process monitoring and control. This approach is designed to overcome the high capital and operating costs of traditional algae fermentation while keeping cultures axenic (free from bacteria and heavy metals). Production runs across two purpose-built facilities in Veenendaal, with genome-sequenced strains selected for protein content, colour, and functional properties (foaming, binding, texturising). The company holds FSSC 22000, GMP+, and Halal certifications, supports a minimum order quantity of 100kg per species packed in 20kg bags, and prices via custom quotes rather than a public price list.

The business model is a direct B2B ingredient sale to enterprise and mid-market accounts in food and feed, supplemented by cultivation optimisation services. Go-to-market is field-led by a Chief Commercial Officer and supported by content marketing, industry events, and consortium-based R&D partnerships. Phycom has raised over EUR 10.5 million to date, including a September 2023 Series A of over EUR 9 million from Corbion, Phase2.earth, Invest-NL, and Invest International, plus a EUR 1.75 million round in February 2024 from ROM Utrecht Region and a private investor. In March 2024, founder Erwin Houtzager transitioned from CEO to CTO and Willem Kuijsten was appointed CEO, with a new supervisory board established; Lieneke Hohmann was appointed CCO in October 2024.

Name

Phycom

Legal name

Phycom

Website

https://phycom.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phycom is a Dutch B2B microalgae producer that cultivates proprietary Chlorella and Parachlorella strains via heterotrophic fermentation for sale as ingredient powders to European food, nutraceutical, and animal feed manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microalgae Ingredients

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae) (AFAEAAAE)

Keywords

• Microalgae production
• Food ingredients
• Animal feed additives
• Sustainable protein
• Algae cultivation

Headquarters

HQ city

Veenendaal

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Microalgae Product Sales: Phycom generates revenue primarily through the sale of microalgae biomass and powders (Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris, Golden Chlorella, Parachl. kessleri) to B2B customers in the food and feed industries. Products are sold in 20kg bags with a minimum order quantity of 100kg per algae species.
2. Cultivation Optimisation Services: Phycom provides cultivation optimisation services to B2B food and feed industry customers, helping them integrate algae into their production processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Phycom is a B2B microalgae ingredient producer that cultivates and sells four strains of microalgae (Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris, Golden Chlorella, and Parachl. kessleri) as powders and biomass for use in food applications (meat analogues, dairy alternatives, smoothies, juices, noodles, pasta, bakery), nutraceuticals, and animal feed. Products are produced using a proprietary heterotrophic fermentation process in closed bioreactor systems, sold in 20kg bags with a 100kg minimum order quantity. The company also offers cultivation optimisation services to help B2B customers integrate algae into their production processes.

Product overview

Phycom is a B2B microalgae ingredient producer offering a portfolio of algae strains and applications. The company produces four main microalgae strains (Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris, Golden Chlorella, and Parachl. kessleri) which are sold as powders in various colours for use in food and feed applications. These strains are organized into three application categories: Algae for Food (meat analogues, dairy alternatives, beverages, noodles, pasta, bakery products), Algae for Nutraceuticals (dietary supplements), and Algae for Animal Feed. The products are produced using a proprietary heterotrophic fermentation process and are sold in 20kg bags with a minimum order quantity of 100kg per species.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chlorella sorokiniana An intense green microalgae species used as a natural colourant with a characteristic umami flavour. Composition: 38% protein, 5% fatty acids, 20% fibre. Sold as a powder in 20kg bags with a 100kg minimum order quantity, targeted at B2B food, nutraceutical, and feed manufacturers.
• Chlorella vulgaris A mild umami-flavoured microalgae suitable for beverages and smoothies. Composition: 40% protein, 15% fatty acids, 30% fibre. Sold as a powder in 20kg bags with a 100kg minimum order quantity, targeted at B2B food, nutraceutical, and feed manufacturers.
• Golden Chlorella A yellow microalgae product providing a natural yellow colour with a sweet corn-like flavour. Composition: 37% protein, 14% fatty acids, 34% fibre. Sold as a powder in 20kg bags with a 100kg minimum order quantity, targeted at B2B food and nutraceutical manufacturers.
• Parachl. kessleri Sol A microalgae producing a deep yellow to ocher colour with a creamy near-nutty flavour. Composition: 29% protein, 9% fatty acids, 19% fibre. Sold as a powder in 20kg bags with a 100kg minimum order quantity, targeted at B2B food and nutraceutical manufacturers.
• Microalgae Cultivation Optimisation Services Professional services provided to B2B food and feed industry customers to help them integrate microalgae ingredients into their production processes and optimise end-use applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wageningen Livestock Research study: inclusion of 0.8% Chlorella vulgaris biomass in broiler diets significantly improves bird immunity and body weight, significantly improving Feed Conversion Rate.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sustainable Production Chains For Cellular Proteins (NIZO-led consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Four-year public-private partnership funded by Topsector Agri & Food, led by NIZO. Phycom provides multiple microalgae strains with 40% protein content to the consortium to explore cellular proteins in dairy and meat analogues. Partners include NIZO, AB Mauri, AB InBev, Revyve, PeelPioneers, Unilever, Westland, HAS University, and Wageningen UR.
• PREFER Project (Wageningen U&R-led consortium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Public-private partnership coordinated by Wageningen University & Research to develop validated in-vitro models predicting allergenic sensitisation capacity of novel dietary proteins, including algae proteins. Phycom participates as a partner providing expertise in microalgae protein applications.
• MULTI-STR3AM (BBI-JU Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking project for a sustainable multi-strain, multi-method, multi-product microalgae biorefinery. Phycom participates as a biomass producer to benefit from increased volume of cultivated microalgae and diversify revenue by growing complementary microalgae strains. Project enables market expansion to health, fragrances, and pharma customers globally.
• Aqua Valley ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2019Large-scale project where companies and research institutions active in aquaculture work together to share knowledge and accelerate innovation. Phycom joined to lay the foundation for a new production plant for saltwater and freshwater algae specifically for the aquafeed sector, and to share water purification expertise.
• Sportcentrum PapendalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2017Sports nutrition innovation hub through Eat2Move programme. Phycom partnered to develop the Essentials™ fruit juice product line - three chilled vegetable-fruit algae juices developed and tested in the Elite sports restaurant, showcasing algae as a food ingredient.
• Micro-algenplatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2017Industry consortium dedicated to further developing the microalgae sector through collaboration across the supply chain, including food and feed producers, technology developers, processors, retailers, government, and knowledge institutions. Phycom has been an active member since 2017 and provides expert input on European standardisation of algae.
• Feed Design LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and education centre for innovation and sustainability in the animal feed sector. Phycom is a partner collaborating on studies investigating dry and wet algae use in animal feed, in-vitro studies, and involvement in the Interreg NWE Idea lab for feed innovation.
• Wageningen Livestock ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Wageningen University & Research for studying the effects of Phycom algae in broiler feed. Published research (2022) demonstrating that 0.8% Chlorella vulgaris biomass inclusion significantly improves bird immunity, body weight, and Feed Conversion Rate. Also published in-vitro study (2019) on metabolic and immunological effects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Biorigin: Brazilian B2B supplier of yeast- and microalgae-derived ingredients for human and animal nutrition, operating fermentation-based production at industrial scale. Comparable as a B2B microalgae/fermentation ingredient player in food and animal nutrition.
• Alver World SA: Switzerland-based producer of Golden Chlorella (the exact trademarked product Phycom markets) and other microalgae food ingredients. Directly comparable B2B microalgae ingredient supplier serving the food and nutrition space.
• Algama: French microalgae food company developing spirulina and chlorella ingredients for food and beverage applications. Closely comparable European microalgae start-up with B2B positioning and similar protein-transition value proposition.
• Cyanotech: US-listed producer of microalgae-derived products including spirulina and astaxanthin for the nutrition, food, and feed markets. Directly comparable microalgae B2B ingredient producer with similar strain-based product portfolio and nutraceutical/supply chain focus.
• Microphyt: French microalgae developer producing bioactive ingredients for nutraceuticals, food, and cosmetics from cultivated microalgae. Comparable European B2B microalgae specialist with overlapping nutraceutical and food customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Corbion: Global leader in algae ingredients (Algae Ingredients business including AlgaPrime DHA) and Phycom's Series A investor. Overlapping product/market focus in microalgae-derived ingredients for food and feed, but with much broader fermentation infrastructure and a multinational commercial footprint.
• Kerry Group: Global taste and nutrition ingredients platform with deep food and feed customer relationships and an expanding alternative-protein portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose commercial reach and product breadth overlap with Phycom's B2B targets.
• dsm-firmenich: Global nutrition and health ingredients major with algae-derived products (e.g., life'sDHA, PARRY organic spirulina) and large fermentation footprint. Overlaps with Phycom's food, feed, and nutraceutical ingredient ambitions as a broad incumbent platform.
• Tate & Lyle: Global B2B food and beverage ingredients supplier actively pushing into alternative proteins and plant-based ingredients. Comparable as a broad-line ingredients incumbent whose customer base and channels overlap with Phycom's food-manufacturer targets.
• Roquette: Global plant-based ingredient leader with substantial alternative-protein and fermentation capabilities (e.g., NUTRALYS plant proteins). Comparable as a large-scale B2B food ingredient incumbent serving meat/dairy alternative and nutritional customers that overlap with Phycom's target segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0N1_xHyP_tDU6LyFdPcnbQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phycom
• Xx.com/PhycomNL
• Facebookfacebook.com/PhycomNL

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Phycom