Nature's Fynd
Nature's Fynd is a Chicago-based biotech company that uses the extremophile fungus Fusarium strain flavolapis, discovered in Yellowstone, to produce nutritional vegan protein ingredients, biopharmaceuticals, and bio-based performance materials for the global food and beverage supply chain.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nature's Fynd does
Nature's Fynd (operating under The Fynder Group, Inc.) is a Chicago-based, development-stage biotechnology company that commercializes a vertically integrated platform built around an extremophile fungal microbe, Fusarium strain flavolapis, discovered through a NASA-funded mission to Yellowstone National Park's volcanic springs. The company monetizes its strain through three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Fynder Ingredients, which supplies extremophile-derived specialty ingredients with functional and nutritional properties to the global food and beverage supply chain; FynderBio, an early-stage biopharmaceutical platform developing oral biologic drugs using filamentous fungi as both production and delivery vehicles; and Hydefy, a bio-based performance material positioned as a leather alternative for upholstery and functional fabrics. The legal entity is a privately held development-stage company headquartered in Chicago, with operations described as combining central R&D, fermentation, and scaled manufacturing.
The company's revenue mechanics are anchored in B2B ingredient sales to the global F&B supply chain, with disclosed activity extending into retail food service via a strategic partnership announced in February 2026 and planned product placement on retail shelves. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Recent corporate moves include a March 2026 expansion of its Chicago fermentation facility, which is positioned to support scaled manufacturing across all three subsidiaries. The company has raised approximately $509 million cumulatively, including a $350 million Series C in 2021 led by SoftBank Vision Fund with participation from Blackstone, Balyasny Asset Management, Hillhouse, SK Holdings, EDBI, and Hongkou, plus earlier strategic rounds backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Generation Investment Management, ADM, and Danone Manifesto Ventures, and a $45 million debt facility from Oxford Finance and Trinity Capital. No revenue figures, customer logos, or named distribution partners are disclosed in the available sources, and the company characterizes itself as development-stage with FDA/regulatory evaluation pending for its non-food product lines.
Nature's Fynd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nature's Fynd
- Legal name
- The Fynder Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://naturesfynd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Nature's Fynd is a Chicago-based biotech company that uses the extremophile fungus Fusarium strain flavolapis, discovered in Yellowstone, to produce nutritional vegan protein ingredients, biopharmaceuticals, and bio-based performance materials for the global food and beverage supply chain.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nature's Fynd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Protein Ingredients
- NAICS
- Mushroom Production (111411), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mushroom & Fungi Production (Indoor/Protected) (AFAGAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)
Keywords
Where Nature's Fynd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nature's Fynd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Fynder Ingredients: Specialty ingredient company bringing extremophile-derived ingredients with unique functional properties and strong nutritional fortification to the global food and beverage supply chain.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Nature's Fynd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nature's Fynd, operating as The Fynder Group, runs a vertically integrated biotechnology platform that uses an extremophile fungus (Fusarium strain flavolapis) discovered in Yellowstone volcanic springs to produce specialty food and beverage ingredients with functional and nutritional fortification. The platform is extended through three subsidiaries: Fynder Ingredients (F&B supply chain ingredients), FynderBio (oral biologic drug development using filamentous fungi), and Hydefy (bio-based leather-alternative performance materials).
Product overview
Nature's Fynd operates as The Fynder Group, a vertically integrated biotechnology platform that develops specialized products from extremophile fungi discovered in Yellowstone National Park. The portfolio consists of three distinct businesses: Fynder Ingredients (specialty food and beverage ingredients with functional and nutritional properties), FynderBio (a biopharmaceutical platform for oral biologic drug development), and Hydefy (bio-based performance materials designed as leather alternatives). The extremophile-derived Fusarium strain flavolapis serves as the biological foundation across all three product lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fynder Ingredients
Companies that use Nature's Fynd
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nature's Fynd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Nature's Fynd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Retail Food Service ProviderscoreNature's Fynd announced a strategic partnership with retail food service providers in February 2026 to commercialize mycoprotein-based alternatives. This partnership supports the company's expansion into food service distribution following its Chicago production facility expansion.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nature's Fynd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quorn Foods: Global mycoprotein market leader producing fungal-protein meat alternatives. Direct competitor to Nature's Fynd's Fynder Ingredients business in the same product category, consumer channel, and underlying biology.
- ENOUGH (ABN): UK-based mycoprotein producer using fermentation to make meat alternatives, explicitly cited alongside Nature's Fynd as a key player in the global mycoprotein market. Closely comparable technology and go-to-market approach.
- The Better Meat Co. Fermentation-based mycoprotein producer targeting food service and CPG customers. Comparable ingredient-supply model and B2B motion to Nature's Fynd's Fynder Ingredients.
- MyForest Foods: US-based mycoprotein company producing fungal-protein meat alternatives for retail and food service. Directly comparable biological approach and target customer base to Nature's Fynd.
- Naplasol: Fermentation-driven mycoprotein ingredient producer cited alongside Nature's Fynd in the global mycoprotein landscape. Similar B2B ingredient-supply positioning.
- Infinite Roots: Mycelium-based food company operating in the same fungal-protein category. Comparable upstream fermentation technology and downstream ingredient customer profile.
Broad incumbents
- Beyond Meat: Largest publicly tracked alternative-protein incumbent selling plant-based meat through retail and food service. Not mycoprotein-based but the dominant competitor for shelf space, foodservice contracts, and consumer mindshare that Nature's Fynd targets.
- Impossible Foods: Established plant-based meat competitor with strong foodservice and retail presence. Competes with Nature's Fynd for the same downstream CPG and QSR customers in the alternative-protein category.
Emerging players
- Perfect Day: Precision-fermentation company producing alternative proteins via engineered microbes. Shares Nature's Fynd's fermentation-based manufacturing paradigm and B2B ingredient supply model, though targeting dairy proteins rather than mycoprotein.
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Cell engineering platform enabling microbial production of ingredients and materials. Comparable fermentation- and microbe-driven business model underpinning Nature's Fynd's three-vertical platform.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nature's Fynd social profiles
Digital presenceNature's Fynd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nature's Fynd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Nature's Fynd subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Nature's Fynd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors19 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nature's Fynd 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 Nature's Fynd
What does Nature's Fynd do?
Nature's Fynd, operating as The Fynder Group, runs a vertically integrated biotechnology platform that uses an extremophile fungus (Fusarium strain flavolapis) discovered in Yellowstone volcanic springs to produce specialty food and beverage ingredients with functional and nutritional fortification. The platform is extended through three subsidiaries: Fynder Ingredients (F&B supply chain ingredients), FynderBio (oral biologic drug development using filamentous fungi), and Hydefy (bio-based leather-alternative performance materials).
Is Nature's Fynd a public or private company?
Nature's Fynd is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nature's Fynd founded?
Nature's Fynd was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Nature's Fynd based?
Nature's Fynd is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nature's Fynd make money?
One revenue line is on record: fynder Ingredients.
Who are Nature's Fynd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quorn Foods, ENOUGH (ABN), The Better Meat Co., MyForest Foods, Naplasol and Infinite Roots. Broad incumbents are Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Emerging players are Perfect Day and Ginkgo Bioworks.
Does Nature's Fynd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nature's Fynd.
What industry is Nature's Fynd in?
Nature's Fynd's product category is Alternative Protein Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAK, Mushroom & Fungi Production (Indoor/Protected), with a secondary code of AFABAEAM, Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 111411.