What Fermtech does

Fermtech is a UK-based food biotechnology startup founded in 2022 and headquartered in Oxford, developing cocoa-alternative ingredients through precision fermentation. Its core product, branded Koji Cocoa, is produced by fermenting agricultural byproducts — primarily cocoa shells and husks, with additional work on spent grains, pea waste, molasses, and soy pulp — using koji fungi (Aspergillus oryzae). The company claims the resulting ingredient enables 100% cocoa reduction in finished products while reducing carbon emissions by up to 98% versus conventional cocoa, positioning it as a clean-label solution to cocoa supply volatility and cost pressures facing the chocolate industry.

The technology platform centers on fungal solid-state/liquid fermentation and downstream processing, with application development led by a chef-biologist Product Development Director and a dedicated Head of Process Scale-Up. Fermtech targets B2B customers — chocolate manufacturers, baked goods producers, and confectionery companies — through a direct enterprise sales motion led by a CCO with 20+ years of ingredient sales experience and a CMO with senior Cadbury Dairy Milk experience. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagement is via direct contact ([email protected]). The company has raised a cumulative ~£3.6M to date across 2024 and 2026 rounds, with the April 2026 £2.5M seed led by Elbow Beach Capital (with Carbon13 and Empirical Ventures) explicitly earmarked for production scale-up.

Fermtech has secured recognition as Most Promising Solution in the Food & Land Category and support from Innovate UK, OxLEP, GFI, EU DF, EIT, and BIA. The company articulates a 2040 vision of saving 5M tons of CO2 and 2.5M tons of cocoa (equivalent to ~10 billion chocolate bars). Operations remain small (1-10 employees) and pre-commercial-scale, with no disclosed revenue or named customer accounts in the source material.

Name

Fermtech

Legal name

Fermtech

Website

https://fermtech.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fermtech is an Oxford-based food biotech startup that produces Koji Cocoa, a cocoa-alternative ingredient made by fermenting agricultural waste (cocoa shells, husks, spent grains) with koji fungi, sold B2B to chocolate and baked goods manufacturers as a sustainable cocoa substitute.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Food Ingredients

NAICS

Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing (3113)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks) (AFAJAJAC)

Keywords

• Precision fermentation
• Cocoa alternatives
• Sustainable food ingredients
• Fungal fermentation technology
• Agricultural waste upcycling

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ingredient Sales: B2B sales of Koji Cocoa ingredient to food manufacturers, chocolate companies, and baked goods producers for use in chocolate, fillings, ganaches, and baked goods applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Fermtech develops and sells Koji Cocoa, a sustainable cocoa alternative ingredient produced through koji (Aspergillus oryzae) fungal fermentation of agricultural byproducts such as cocoa shells, husks, and spent grains. The ingredient is sold B2B to chocolate and baked goods manufacturers for use in chocolate products, fillings, ganaches, and baked goods, delivering up to 98% carbon emission reduction compared to conventional cocoa.

Product overview

Fermtech offers a single core product: Koji Cocoa, a cocoa alternative ingredient produced through precision fermentation technology that transforms agricultural byproducts (cocoa shells and husks) into cocoa-enhancing ingredients. The company focuses on sustainable food solutions using fermentation to create ingredients that reduce carbon footprints by up to 98% versus conventional cocoa, targeting the chocolate and food industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KOJI COCOA: A cocoa alternative made from waste and fungi through fermentation, using cocoa shells and husks. The product reduces carbon emissions by up to 98% compared to conventional cocoa and is suitable for chocolate baked goods, fillings, ganaches, and chocolate applications.

Products and services

• Koji Cocoa Koji Cocoa is a sustainable cocoa alternative ingredient produced through fungal (koji/Aspergillus oryzae) fermentation of agricultural byproducts including cocoa shells, husks, and spent grains. It enables up to 100% cocoa reduction in finished products while delivering up to 98% lower carbon emissions versus conventional cocoa. It is 100% natural and clean label, and is targeted at chocolate and baked goods manufacturers for applications including chocolate baked goods, fillings and ganaches, and chocolate products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional cocoa production
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Planet A Foods: German food-tech startup producing cocoa alternatives from sunflower seed husks via proprietary processing. Direct competitor to Fermtech's Koji Cocoa in the alternative cocoa ingredient space, serving the same chocolate and bakery manufacturers with sustainability-led value propositions.
• Voyage Foods: US-based food-tech company producing cocoa-free chocolate and nut-free spreads using proprietary food science approaches. Direct alternative cocoa competitor targeting chocolate manufacturers seeking supply-stable, sustainable cocoa replacements — same end-market and customer pain points as Fermtech.
• Perfect Day: US-based precision fermentation company producing animal-free dairy proteins (whey and casein). Highly comparable on core technology (precision fermentation), B2B ingredient GTM model, and sustainability positioning, though addressing dairy rather than cocoa end-markets.
• The EVERY Company: US precision fermentation company (formerly Clara Foods) producing animal-free egg and whey proteins. Comparable on precision fermentation technology platform, B2B ingredient sales model, and target customers in food manufacturing with sustainability mandates.
• Geltor: US-based precision fermentation company producing animal-free functional proteins (collagen, elastin) for food, beauty, and nutraceuticals. Comparable on core fermentation technology and B2B ingredient business model targeting manufacturers seeking sustainable, premium-priced inputs.
• Remilk: Israel-based precision fermentation company producing animal-free milk proteins for dairy and food applications. Shares the precision fermentation technology base and B2B ingredient distribution model targeting large food manufacturers with sustainability commitments.

Emerging players

• Celleste Bio: Israeli cellular agriculture company producing real cocoa ingredients via cell culture rather than fermentation. Addresses the same cocoa supply crisis with a different production technology, competing for the same chocolate manufacturer customers.
• NotCo: Chilean/US food-tech company using AI-driven ingredient discovery to develop plant-based alternatives to animal products (milk, meat, mayo). Comparable as a food-tech challenger targeting incumbent CPG manufacturers with sustainable ingredient alternatives, though uses AI formulation rather than fermentation.

Broad incumbents

• Barry Callebaut: World's largest chocolate and cocoa manufacturer serving industrial and artisan customers globally. Key incumbent customer and potential competitor — has publicly invested in alternative cocoa R&D and could either adopt or compete with Fermtech's Koji Cocoa in the chocolate supply chain.
• Cargill: Global agricultural commodities giant with major cocoa sourcing and processing operations serving chocolate manufacturers. Both a potential large customer for Fermtech's cocoa alternative ingredient and a potential competitor with internal alternative cocoa R&D and deep customer relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fermtech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 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 Fermtech