Nucaps

What Nucaps does

Nucaps Nanotechnology S.L is a privately held Spanish biotechnology company founded in 2017 in Noáin, Navarra, that develops and supplies protein-based microencapsulated functional ingredients for bioactives and probiotics. The company's proprietary PowerCaps3 platform uses natural proteins to encapsulate nutrients, bioactives, and probiotics, claiming up to 30x bioavailability improvement and up to 70% cost reduction versus conventional microencapsulation methods. The product portfolio centers on three offerings: PowerCaps3 (the core nano/microcapsule platform), NuPro (protein-microencapsulated probiotics designed for stability through industrial thermal processes), and UHTCAPS (bi-structured microcapsules engineered to survive UHT treatment above 130°C with multi-stage pH-dependent release).

The company operates a B2B ingredient-supply model targeting functional food and beverage manufacturers, nutraceutical and dietary supplement producers, animal nutrition companies, and cosmetics/dermo-cosmetic brands. Customer logos displayed on the company website include major multinationals such as AB InBev, Givaudan, Tetra Pak, Mahou San Miguel, Torres, Glico, and Iparlat, alongside regional players. Distribution is global (cited presence in 21+ countries) and primarily direct enterprise sales, supplemented by trade show participation at events such as Alimentaria Barcelona and Food4Future. Pricing is custom and quote-based; no public pricing tiers are disclosed.

Nucaps is technology-origin commercialized out of CNTA (Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria), the University of Navarra, and ARDENA, all of which remain shareholders alongside CAPSA and Clave Capital. The firm employs approximately 15 professionals, seven of whom hold PhDs, and runs roughly 47 active R&D projects supported by 7 international patent families. Capital structure to date is dominated by non-dilutive grant funding from the Government of Navarra (cumulative disclosed grants exceed €900K across 2024–2026 projects including PROCAPS, Plentyfood, Alba, Revolution, and Circublack), with no traditional venture capital or private equity rounds disclosed.

Name

Nucaps

Legal name

Nucaps Nanotechnology S.L

Website

https://nucapsnanotechnology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nucaps is a Spanish biotech company that develops protein-based microencapsulation technology for bioactives and probiotics, supplying functional ingredients to B2B manufacturers in the food, nutraceutical, animal nutrition, and cosmetics sectors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microencapsulated Functional Ingredients

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Delivery Systems & Encapsulation (Microencapsulation, Liposomes, Emulsions, Beadlets, Spray-Dried) (AFAJAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Encapsulation & Emulsified Delivery Systems (Spray-dried emulsions, Lipid microencapsulation) (AFAJACAL), Culture Carriers & Encapsulation Systems (Cryoprotectants, Microencapsulation, Delivery Matrices) (AFAJAJAK), Nutraceuticals & Functional Ingredients for Animal Diets (Probiotics, Omega-3, Joint, GI) (HLAMAHAH), Functional Foods & Supplement Formats (Gummies, Chews, Powders, Shots) (CRADAGAI)

Keywords

• Protein microencapsulation
• Functional ingredients
• Probiotic encapsulation
• Bioactive delivery
• Nutraceutical ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Noáin

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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. Functional Ingredient Supply: Development and supply of functional ingredients (protein microencapsulated bioactives and probiotics) to manufacturers of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and ingredients

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nucaps develops and produces protein-based microencapsulated functional ingredients (bioactives, probiotics, and flavorings) under its PowerCaps3 platform. The company sells these encapsulated ingredients to B2B customers in the food & beverage, nutraceutical, animal nutrition, and cosmetics sectors, offering improved bioavailability, ingredient stability, and clean-label formulations.

Product overview

NUCAPS is an international biotech company that develops and produces functional ingredients based on protein-based microencapsulation technology. The company's product portfolio centers on PowerCaps3 protein nano and microcapsules as the core technology platform, which enables incorporation of nutrients, bioactives, and probiotics with improved stability, bioavailability, and clean-label properties. Key products include NuPro (protein-microencapsulated probiotics for food applications) and UHTCAPS (specialized protection for probiotics against UHT processing). NUCAPS operates as a B2B partner for manufacturers of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and ingredients, serving diverse sectors including Food & Beverages, Human Nutrition, Animal Nutrition & Health, and Skin & Health (Cosmetics).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NuPro: Protein-microencapsulated probiotics solution that provides greater stability and proven efficacy for incorporation into solid and liquid foods, maintaining viability after industrial thermal processes.
• PowerCaps3
• UHTCAPS

Products and services

• PowerCaps3 Protein-based nano and microcapsules that enable the incorporation of nutrients and bioactives in a stable manner, with clean labelling and competitive costs, used across food, nutrition, animal health, and cosmetics applications.
• NuPro Protein-microencapsulated probiotics made with natural proteins, offering greater stability and proven efficacy, enabling incorporation into both solid and liquid foods while maintaining viability after industrial thermal processes.
• UHTCAPS Bi-structured microcapsules resistant to temperatures above 130°C with multi-stage pH-dependent release, specifically designed to protect probiotics and bioactive compounds during UHT (Ultra-High Temperature) processing in liquid foods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30x bioavailability improvement compared to conventional methods
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MassChallenge SwitzerlandcoreOthersParticipant in MassChallenge Switzerland accelerator program. Awarded Sustainable Food & Materials Challenge 2026. Part of the accelerator ecosystem providing mentorship, networking, and growth support.
• CEIN (Centro Europeo de Empresas e Innovación de Navarra)coreOthersIncubator support from CEIN. Nucaps recognized as CEIN Incubator Startup with highest job creation in 2025. Company operates from CEIN Vivero incubator facility.
• CNTA (Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed technology and shareholder. Active partner in NUTRACAPS, HIDROPEP, and other consortium R&D projects. Provides technology transfer and validation support.
• Universidad de NavarracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed technology and shareholder. Scientific advisors from the university (Juan Manuel Irache). Active collaborator in NUTRACAPS, HIDROPEP, and BIOANCIENT consortium projects.
• Grupo ANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in HIDROPEP project. Major food and agricultural cooperative in Navarra. Collaboration on R&D projects involving functional ingredients.
• NAGRIFOODcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood technology cluster and consortium partner in NUTRACAPS, HIDROPEP, and other R&D projects. Supports collaborative innovation in the Navarra food ecosystem.
• NUTRACAPS Consortium (Iberfruta, Isanatur, Ingredalia, Ojer Pharma, Espiga I+D, CNTA, UNAV, NAGRIFOOD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNucaps-led consortium focused on bioactive encapsulation technology development. Nine organizations collaborating on protein microencapsulation for bioactives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lonza (Capsugel): Lonza's Capsugel division is the global leader in capsule and encapsulation technologies for pharma, nutraceutical, and functional food markets. Directly comparable to Nucaps as a B2B provider of encapsulation solutions for bioactives and probiotics at industrial scale.
• Balchem Corporation: Balchem provides microencapsulation technologies and ingredient systems across food, nutrition, and animal health markets. Directly comparable to Nucaps in delivering encapsulated bioactives, probiotics, and functional ingredients to enterprise B2B customers.
• Novonesis (formerly Chr. Hansen): Novonesis is a global bioscience company specializing in cultures, enzymes, and probiotics with proprietary delivery and stabilization technologies. Directly comparable to Nucaps in probiotic encapsulation and functional food ingredient supply, with much larger global reach.

Broad incumbents

• Kerry Group: Kerry Group is a global taste and nutrition giant offering encapsulated functional ingredients, probiotics, and bioactive delivery systems across food and beverage. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering microencapsulation as part of a wider ingredient portfolio.
• DSM-Firmenich: DSM-Firmenich is a global nutrition, health, and beauty ingredients major with microencapsulation capabilities for vitamins, probiotics, and bioactives. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same functional food, nutraceutical, and animal nutrition customers.
• Givaudan: Givaudan is the global flavor and fragrance leader with an active encapsulation portfolio for taste masking and bioactive delivery. Comparable as a broad incumbent; notably also a disclosed Nucaps customer, illustrating dual competitor/partner dynamics.
• Ingredion: Ingredion is a global ingredient solutions provider with clean-label encapsulation and functional food ingredient systems. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same clean-label, plant-based functional ingredient briefs at CPG customers.
• Tate & Lyle: Tate & Lyle is a global food and beverage ingredient supplier with proprietary stabilization and encapsulation technologies for dietary fibers, sweeteners, and bioactives. Comparable as a broad incumbent in functional food ingredient encapsulation.

Emerging players

• BIO-CAT: BIO-CAT is a US-based probiotic and enzyme manufacturer with custom blending and stabilization capabilities for functional food and supplement brands. Comparable as a smaller specialist player focused on probiotic and enzyme delivery for nutraceutical customers.
• AB Biotics: AB Biotics is a Spanish/Iberian probiotic and functional ingredient developer with proprietary strains and formulation expertise. Comparable as a regional/specialist peer operating in the same Iberian market with overlapping probiotic encapsulation and functional food positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nucaps_nano
• Facebookfacebook.com/nucaps.nanotecnologia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nucaps
• Instagraminstagram.com/nucaps_nano

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Nucaps