Smallfood
Smallfood is a Canadian B2B ingredient company that uses proprietary microalgae biomass fermentation to produce high-protein, omega-3-rich food ingredients for alternative-seafood brands, human and pet nutrition companies, and dietary supplement manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersHalifax, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Smallfood does
Smallfood Inc. is a Canadian B2B ingredient company that produces premium protein and omega-3 DHA ingredients through proprietary biomass fermentation of a unique strain of microalgae. Founded around 2013 and headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the company spent roughly a decade and over CAD $20M in R&D screening more than 20,000 microorganisms before isolating its production strain, which yields >85% protein concentrate plus DHA, lipids, and antioxidants in approximately 7 days. Its commercial product portfolio comprises two primary ingredients: the Protein-Rich DHA Complex, a whole-cell ingredient targeted at alternative-seafood brands seeking protein, omega-3, and natural marine flavor in one component, and a More Perfect Protein ingredient aimed at human nutrition, pet nutrition, and dietary supplement manufacturers. Positioning emphasizes vegan, non-GMO, allergen-free credentials and a substantially smaller environmental footprint than beef, farmed fish, or pea protein. The company has not yet disclosed named commercial customers, revenue, or pricing.
Smallfood commercializes through direct B2B sales to sustainability-focused food and supplement manufacturers, anchored by an Early Adopter Program and a website-driven contact funnel rather than distributors or retail channels. The go-to-market targets three primary verticals — alternative-seafood companies, human and pet nutrition brands, and dietary supplement manufacturers — all pursued via enterprise field sales motions. Marketing presence is concentrated on the company website and a LinkedIn corporate page, with no paid or programmatic acquisition channels disclosed. The revenue model is essentially transactional ingredient sales; the source data labels it as one-time-license but, in practice, B2B ingredient supply is typically a recurring purchase / spec-in arrangement once a formulator has qualified a supplier.
Capital structure is private and founder/grant-led. The disclosed capital base consists of a CAD $98,932 grant from the Canadian Food Innovation Network in January 2023 and a CAD $7,000,000 round led by Canada's Ocean Supercluster in April 2023, alongside the XPRIZE competition partnership with Terra Bio. The company is led by CEO Marc St-Onge and operates with 11-50 employees. No institutional venture or private equity backing is disclosed, and there is no evidence of an IPO, M&A, or significant restructuring.
Smallfood firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smallfood
- Legal name
- Smallfood Inc.
- Website
- https://smallfood.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Smallfood is a Canadian B2B ingredient company that uses proprietary microalgae biomass fermentation to produce high-protein, omega-3-rich food ingredients for alternative-seafood brands, human and pet nutrition companies, and dietary supplement manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smallfood industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Protein Ingredients
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation) (AFAJAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF), Proteins & Functional Nutrition Ingredients (Plant/Animal Proteins, Collagen, Amino Acids) (CRADAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Smallfood is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halifax
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Smallfood business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Ingredient Sales: B2B sales of microbial food ingredients (proteins, omega-3 DHA, lipids, antioxidants) to sustainability-focused food and supplement companies. The company acts as an ingredient supplier to manufacturers of alternative seafood, nutritional supplements, and functional foods.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Smallfood product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smallfood produces microbial food ingredients—proteins, omega-3 DHA, lipids, and antioxidants—through proprietary biomass fermentation of a unique microalgae strain discovered after 10 years of research and screening of over 20,000 microorganisms. Its two core B2B offerings are the Protein-Rich DHA Complex (combining protein, omega-3 DHA, and natural marine flavor in a single whole-cell ingredient for alternative seafood brands) and More Perfect Protein (a >85% protein concentrate with a complete amino acid profile for drinks, foods, and supplements). All ingredients are vegan, non-GMO, and allergen-free.
Product overview
Smallfood is a microbial ingredient company that produces premium food ingredients through proprietary biomass fermentation using a unique strain of microalgae discovered over 10 years of research. Their product portfolio consists of two main offerings: the Protein-Rich DHA Complex for alternative seafood companies providing a 3-in-1 solution of protein, omega-3 DHA, and natural marine flavor; and the More Perfect Protein, a high-protein concentrate (>85%) designed for drinks, foods, and dietary supplements. Both products are vegan, non-GMO, and allergen-free.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Protein-Rich DHA Complex A whole-cell microbial ingredient that delivers protein, omega-3 DHA, and natural marine seafood flavor in a single ingredient, designed for alternative seafood brands creating nutritious, fish-free products. Sold as a B2B food ingredient.
- More Perfect Protein A microbial protein concentrate with >85% protein, complete amino acid profile, high solubility, and high digestibility, designed for easy formulation into drinks, foods, and dietary supplements. Vegan, non-GMO, and allergen-free. Sold as a B2B food ingredient.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30x less greenhouse gas emissions vs beef protein production
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Smallfood
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Smallfood technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Smallfood partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Terra BiominorJoint participation in XPRIZE competition alongside Terra Bio, indicating a co-development or collaborative partnership in the food innovation space.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smallfood competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The EVERY Company (formerly Clara Foods): The EVERY Company produces animal-identical proteins (egg white, whey) via precision fermentation for B2B CPG and supplement brands. It overlaps directly with Smallfood's fermentation-derived protein ingredient platform and target customer base of food and supplement manufacturers.
- Perfect Day: Perfect Day produces dairy proteins (whey and casein) via precision fermentation using microflora. It is the most-funded precision fermentation protein company and a direct competitor to Smallfood in selling fermentation-derived functional protein ingredients to B2B food and supplement customers.
- Triton Algae Innovations: Triton Algae Innovations produces algae-based protein ingredients and natural pigments for food and supplements using proprietary strains. It is a direct microalgae-based ingredient peer to Smallfood, addressing similar B2B customer segments in nutrition and functional foods.
- Nature's Fynd: Nature's Fynd produces Fy Protein, a fermentation-derived nutritional protein from a unique microbe originally found in Yellowstone. Like Smallfood, it leverages biomass fermentation with proprietary microbes to deliver protein for food and beverage applications.
- Solar Foods: Solar Foods produces Solein, a single-cell protein made via gas fermentation from air and electricity. It is a direct competitor in fermentation-derived protein ingredients for food applications and shares Smallfood's sustainability-driven value proposition.
Broad incumbents
- Quorn: Quorn produces mycoprotein (Fusarium venenatum) via fermentation for meat alternative products at retail. It is a broad incumbent demonstrating the commercial viability of fermentation-derived proteins and competes indirectly with Smallfood in alternative protein end markets.
- Corbion: Corbion is a large ingredient company with an algae-based ingredients platform (including DHA-rich algae oils) targeting food, nutrition, and supplement customers. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping microalgae-derived ingredients sold into the same B2B channels as Smallfood.
- dsm-firmenich: dsm-firmenich is a global nutrition and health ingredients major with algae-derived DHA (life's DHA) and a broad portfolio of food ingredients. It competes with Smallfood in B2B protein and omega-3 ingredient sales and has dramatically larger scale and customer reach.
- Impossible Foods: Impossible Foods is a leading plant-based meat alternative brand that uses soy and heme via precision fermentation for its flagship products. While its primary ingredient is plant-based rather than microalgae, it is a broad incumbent shaping the alternative protein category Smallfood targets.
Emerging players
- Air Protein: Air Protein produces air-based meat alternatives via fermentation of hydrogen-consuming microbes. It is an emerging player in fermentation-derived protein for food applications, overlapping with Smallfood's B2B protein ingredient value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Smallfood social profiles
Digital presenceSmallfood financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smallfood leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Smallfood funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smallfood 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 Smallfood
What does Smallfood do?
Smallfood produces microbial food ingredients—proteins, omega-3 DHA, lipids, and antioxidants—through proprietary biomass fermentation of a unique microalgae strain discovered after 10 years of research and screening of over 20,000 microorganisms. Its two core B2B offerings are the Protein-Rich DHA Complex (combining protein, omega-3 DHA, and natural marine flavor in a single whole-cell ingredient for alternative seafood brands) and More Perfect Protein (a >85% protein concentrate with a complete amino acid profile for drinks, foods, and supplements). All ingredients are vegan, non-GMO, and allergen-free.
Is Smallfood a public or private company?
Smallfood is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smallfood founded?
Smallfood was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Smallfood based?
Smallfood is headquartered in Halifax, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Smallfood make money?
One revenue line is on record: ingredient Sales.
Who are Smallfood's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The EVERY Company (formerly Clara Foods), Perfect Day, Triton Algae Innovations, Nature's Fynd and Solar Foods. Broad incumbents are Quorn, Corbion, dsm-firmenich and Impossible Foods. Air Protein is listed as an emerging player.
Does Smallfood have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smallfood.
What industry is Smallfood in?
Smallfood's product category is Alternative Protein Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAH, Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation), with a secondary code of AFAJAHAF, Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2090.