Gecco Biotech
GECCO Biotech is a Groningen-based enzyme biocatalysis company offering discovery, engineering, production, testing, and process optimization services plus standardized enzyme kits to pharmaceutical, flavours & fragrances, food technology, and fine chemical manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersGroningen, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gecco Biotech does
GECCO Biotech B.V. is a Groningen, Netherlands-based enzyme biocatalysis company founded around 2019 and operating as a B2B services provider for industrial clients. The company positions itself as a one-stop shop across the enzyme value chain: enzyme scouting (in silico curation of panels for a target reaction), small- to medium-scale enzyme production, analytical testing (HPLC with DAD, CAD or MS detection), custom enzyme engineering (focused mutant libraries of 90-190 unique variants per evolution round to optimize activity, stability, and regio- or enantio-selectivity), and process optimization (temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme dosage). Alongside services, GECCO sells eight standardized enzyme kit lines (alcohol dehydrogenases/ketoreductases, oxidases, BVMOs/FMOs, P450 monooxygenases, laccases/DyPs, halogenases, ene-reductases, and transaminases) in well-plate or cell-free extract formats for substrate scoping.
The company targets pharmaceutical, flavours & fragrances, food technology, and fine chemical manufacturers that need sustainable, selective, and cost-efficient alternatives to traditional chemistry. Named enterprise customers include Fresenius Kabi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Royal Cosun, Zymvol, and academic partner University of Groningen, alongside over 55 industry clients and more than 50 enzyme kit customers globally. GECCO is founder-owned (CEO Nikola Lončar, CSO Prof. Marco Fraaije, COO Hugo van Beek) with no disclosed institutional equity capital; cumulative funding of approximately €2M is sourced entirely from non-diluting EU and regional grants (OXIPRO, DECADES, ROBUSTOO, OXYMEL, FLEXIZYME, EFRO).
The business model is a hybrid of professional services revenue (project-based enzyme development and process optimization engagements sold via enterprise field sales) and productized revenue from enzyme kits, both delivered globally through direct engagement. The company is small (11-50 employees, 75% holding PhDs, 140 sqm of laboratory space) and is operationally embedded in the EU biocatalysis research ecosystem, with co-founder Marco Fraaije's professorship at University of Groningen serving as a key channel into consortium funding and academic collaboration.
Gecco Biotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gecco Biotech
- Legal name
- GECCO Biotech B.V.
- Website
- https://gecco-biotech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GECCO Biotech is a Groningen-based enzyme biocatalysis company offering discovery, engineering, production, testing, and process optimization services plus standardized enzyme kits to pharmaceutical, flavours & fragrances, food technology, and fine chemical manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gecco Biotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Biocatalysis Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL), Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)
Keywords
Where Gecco Biotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Groningen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gecco Biotech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Enzyme services: Comprehensive enzyme development services including scouting, production, testing, engineering, and process optimization for industrial clients in pharmaceuticals, flavours, fragrances, and food technology sectors. Services are tailored to customer needs and delivered as project-based engagements.
- Enzyme kits: Sale of enzyme kits containing enzymes of specific classes in purified form or as cell-free extracts in well-plate format. Customers can also request screening services to be performed in-house.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Gecco Biotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GECCO Biotech provides enzyme biocatalysis services to industrial customers, including enzyme scouting, small-to-medium scale enzyme production, enzymatic reaction testing (HPLC-based), custom enzyme engineering via focused mutant libraries, and reaction condition/process optimization. The company complements these services with a portfolio of standardized enzyme kits (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenases, oxidases, BVMOs/FMOs, P450s, laccases, halogenases, ene-reductases, transaminases) for rapid substrate screening. Customers operate in pharmaceuticals, flavours & fragrances, food technology, and fine chemicals.
Product overview
GECCO Biotech is a biotech company specializing in enzyme innovation and biocatalysis solutions. The company operates as a one-stop shop offering both enzyme products (enzyme kits) and services. Their enzyme kits portfolio includes eight product categories: Alcohol Dehydrogenases/Ketoreductases, Oxidases, BVMOs and FMOs, P450 Monooxygenases, Laccases and DyPs, Halogenases, Ene-Reductases, and Transaminases—all supplied in purified form or as cell-free extracts in well-plate format or vials. Their service offerings complement the product portfolio and include Enzyme Scouting, Small to Medium-Scale Enzyme Production, Enzyme Testing, Enzyme Engineering, Process Optimization, and Enzyme-Based Process Development. Together, the enzyme kits and services form a comprehensive biocatalysis solution for customers in pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, and food technology industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enzyme Scouting
- Small to Medium-Scale Enzyme Production
- Enzyme Testing
- Enzyme Engineering
- Process Optimization
- Enzyme-Based Process Development
- Enzyme Kits - Alcohol Dehydrogenases / Ketoreductases
- Enzyme Kits - Oxidases
- Enzyme Kits - BVMOs and FMOs
- Enzyme Kits - P450 Monooxygenases
- Enzyme Kits - Laccases and DyPs
- Enzyme Kits - Halogenases
- Enzyme Kits - Ene-Reductases
- Enzyme Kits - Transaminases
Quantifiable outcome
- Enzyme activity up to 90°C and pH range 5-8 stability demonstrated for Tcalid SDR ketoreductase
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Gecco Biotech
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gecco Biotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Gecco Biotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Boehringer IngelheimcoreCollaborative case study with Boehringer Ingelheim on developing an eco-friendly method for producing optically pure alcohols using biocatalytic kinetic resolution. GECCO led enzyme discovery, characterization, and process optimization.
- Zymvol BiomodelingcoreOngoing collaboration on enzyme discovery and design projects, including kinetic resolution case study for Boehringer Ingelheim and Eurostars OXYMEL project for biomelanin production.
- Kiel UniversityminorAcademic collaboration partner in case study for biocatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols using ketoreductases.
- EFRO Consortium (Portal Biotech, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Cortalix B.V.)coreGECCO Biotech, Portal Biotech, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, and Cortalix B.V. awarded EFRO grant from SNN (Northern Netherlands Alliance) to develop a portable, nanopore-based analyser for rapid identification and characterization of biomolecules, targeting applications in diagnostics and drug discovery.
- FLEXIZYME Consortium (CBE JU)coreGECCO Biotech awarded FLEXIZYME project by Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, aiming to develop a flexible enzymatic biotechnological platform for sustainable industrial production of bio-based fatty amines from side stream materials. Partners include 20+ academic and industrial organizations across Europe.
- University of GroningencoreGECCO co-founder Prof. Marco Fraaije is Professor at University of Groningen. Multiple collaborative research projects and co-authored publications including FLEXIZYME, EFRO grant, and DECADES consortium.
- ROBUSTOO Consortium (Horizon Europe)coreGECCO Biotech part of ROBUSTOO project coordinated by Dr Susana Camarero (CIB-CSIC), focusing on robust industrial biocatalysts with peroxygenase, phenol-oxidase or furfuryl-oxidase activities. Consortium includes MetGen, bisy, InnoSyn, Consorzio Italbiotec, FCBA, UAB, BSC, CSIS, IRNAS and CIB.
- OXYMEL Consortium (Eurostars)coreGECCO Biotech awarded Eurostars project OXYMEL with ZYMVOL Biomodeling, Insempra, and University of Groningen to bring an innovative and scalable fermentative biomelanin production process to market.
- Royal CosuncoreIndustry collaboration on uronic acid oxidase research, co-authoring publication on biochemical and structural characterization with researchers from Royal Cosun and University of Groningen.
- DECADES Consortium (Horizon MSCA)coreDECADES (DEsign of CAtalytic processes with Deep-Eutectic-Solvents) is a Horizon MSCA-DN project focusing on using DESs as advantageous solvents to improve sustainability of biotechnological processes. Consortium includes academic and industry partners including University of Groningen, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Cascat GmbH, Symeres, AstraZeneca, Johnson Matthey, and Henkel.
- COZYME (COST Action)minorCOZYME is a Pan-European network funded by European COST Action, aimed at developing and implementing state-of-the-art computational tools for rapid enzyme improvement. GECCO co-founder Prof. Marco Fraaije is part of this collaborative network.
- OXIPRO ConsortiumcoreGECCO Biotech joined the OXIPRO project funded under EU Horizon 2020, focusing on developing and engineering novel oxidoreductase enzymes for environmentally-friendly consumer products. The four-year initiative brings together 15 expert organizations across 11 European countries to target sustainability in detergents, textiles, sunscreens, and nutraceuticals.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gecco Biotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Codexis: Codexis is a US-listed enzyme engineering company that designs and develops biocatalysts for pharmaceutical and industrial customers. It is the most direct peer to GECCO's protein engineering and directed-evolution services, operating at significantly larger scale across the same end markets.
- Zymvol Biomodeling: Zymvol is a computational enzyme discovery and design company based in Barcelona. GECCO lists Zymvol as a customer and consortium partner (OXYMEL), and both firms target the same biocatalysis customers with overlapping enzyme engineering capabilities.
- InnoSyn: InnoSyn is a Dutch biocatalysis company providing enzyme-based process development and manufacturing services for fine chemicals and pharma. It is a co-partner in GECCO's ROBUSTOO consortium and a direct competitor for the same fine chemical and pharma process development work.
- bisy GmbH: bisy is an Austrian biocatalysis company developing enzyme-based processes for chemical manufacturing. It partners with GECCO in the ROBUSTOO consortium and competes in the same sustainable biocatalysis services market.
- Cascat GmbH: Cascat is a German industrial biotechnology company specializing in biocatalytic process development using Deep Eutectic Solvents. It is a partner in GECCO's DECADES consortium and competes for similar sustainable bioprocess development customers.
- Enzymicals AG: Enzymicals is a German enzyme company offering biocatalytic process development, enzyme production, and screening for industrial customers. It is a direct peer in European enzyme services with overlapping customer segments in pharma and fine chemicals.
Broad incumbents
- Novonesis (formerly Novozymes): Novonesis is the largest global industrial enzymes company, offering enzyme products and biocatalysis solutions across food, pharma, and industrial biotech. It is a broad incumbent that competes with GECCO in enzyme supply, but at vastly greater scale and with a much broader product portfolio.
- Evonik Industries (Catalysts & Biocatalysis): Evonik is a global specialty chemicals company with a sizable biocatalysis and enzyme services business serving pharma and fine chemicals. It competes with GECCO for industrial biocatalysis contracts at much larger scale and with broader chemistry capabilities.
- Johnson Matthey (Catalyst Technologies): Johnson Matthey is a global catalysis and chemicals company with biocatalysis offerings, and is a partner in GECCO's DECADES consortium. It competes for industrial enzyme process development at a much larger scale than GECCO.
Emerging players
- Insempra: Insempra is a German biotech developing fermentation-based ingredients including biomelanin. It partners with GECCO in the OXYMEL Eurostars project and represents an emerging adjacent player in industrial fermentation where GECCO's enzyme expertise is increasingly relevant.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gecco Biotech social profiles
Digital presenceGecco Biotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gecco Biotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Gecco Biotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gecco Biotech 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 Gecco Biotech
What does Gecco Biotech do?
GECCO Biotech provides enzyme biocatalysis services to industrial customers, including enzyme scouting, small-to-medium scale enzyme production, enzymatic reaction testing (HPLC-based), custom enzyme engineering via focused mutant libraries, and reaction condition/process optimization. The company complements these services with a portfolio of standardized enzyme kits (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenases, oxidases, BVMOs/FMOs, P450s, laccases, halogenases, ene-reductases, transaminases) for rapid substrate screening. Customers operate in pharmaceuticals, flavours & fragrances, food technology, and fine chemicals.
Is Gecco Biotech a public or private company?
Gecco Biotech is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gecco Biotech founded?
Gecco Biotech was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gecco Biotech based?
Gecco Biotech is headquartered in Groningen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Gecco Biotech make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Enzyme services are the primary driver. The others are enzyme kits.
Who are Gecco Biotech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Codexis, Zymvol Biomodeling, InnoSyn, bisy GmbH, Cascat GmbH and Enzymicals AG. Broad incumbents are Novonesis (formerly Novozymes), Evonik Industries (Catalysts & Biocatalysis) and Johnson Matthey (Catalyst Technologies). Insempra is listed as an emerging player.
Does Gecco Biotech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gecco Biotech.
What industry is Gecco Biotech in?
Gecco Biotech's product category is Industrial Biocatalysis Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization), with a secondary code of EUAAAIAL, Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.