Prolupin
Prolupin is a German private food-technology company founded in 2010 that develops, produces, and markets lactose-free, plant-based milk substitutes made from blue sweet lupine, serving B2B food and beverage manufacturers and health-conscious consumers across Europe.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersGrimmen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Prolupin does
Prolupin GmbH, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Grimmen, Germany, develops, produces, and markets vegetable-based, lactose-free milk substitutes derived from the blue sweet lupine (Lupinus angustifolius). The company was spun out of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft via Fraunhofer Venture and built proprietary processing know-how for transforming blue sweet lupine into plant-based dairy alternatives. Prolupin operates as a private, for-profit company with an 11-50 employee footprint and an active B2B commercial organization featuring dedicated sales and marketing leadership.
The underlying technology stack is centered on proprietary lupine processing — protein extraction, purification, and beverage formulation tailored to the blue sweet lupine, a non-GMO, nitrogen-fixing legume that is well adapted to European cultivation. Prolupin's commercial proposition targets food and beverage manufacturers seeking plant-based, allergen-friendly (non-soy, non-nut, gluten- and lactose-free) protein alternatives to soy, oat, and almond milks, as well as health- and sustainability-conscious consumers.
Prolupin's revenue model relies on B2B ingredient and finished product sales to dairy alternative and plant-based food customers. The company's go-to-market has been validated by serial institutional capital: eight funding rounds over a decade from 2010 to 2020, anchored by eCAPITAL Entrepreneurial Partners and Munich Venture Partners across multiple rounds, with strategic participation from Tate & Lyle Ventures in 2018 and a 2020 round led by Capricorn Partners alongside eCAPITAL, Munich Venture Partners, and Novax. Recurring investor participation signals sustained commercial traction and ongoing scale-up of production capacity at the Grimmen site.
Prolupin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prolupin
- Legal name
- Wide Open Agriculture Ltd
- Website
- https://prolupin.de
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Prolupin is a German private food-technology company founded in 2010 that develops, produces, and markets lactose-free, plant-based milk substitutes made from blue sweet lupine, serving B2B food and beverage manufacturers and health-conscious consumers across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prolupin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives
- NAICS
- Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant-Based Milk & Creamer Processing (Oat, Soy, Almond, Coconut, Blends) (AFAHAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dairy Alternatives (Plant-Based Milk, Yogurt, Creamers) (CRADACAF)
Keywords
Where Prolupin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grimmen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prolupin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lupin-based Ingredient Sales: WOA generates revenue by selling lupin protein isolates, fibres, oils, and bioactive compounds to food, beverage, wellness, and beauty industry manufacturers.
- B2B Ingredient Supply: Direct ingredient supply to manufacturers for use in baked goods, snacks, plant-based dairy, and meat alternatives.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Prolupin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prolupin develops, produces, and markets vegetable-based, lactose-free milk substitutes derived from the blue sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius). The company extracts protein and other components from lupin beans to create plant-based dairy alternatives and functional food ingredients. Its products target food and beverage manufacturers as well as end consumers seeking sustainable, lactose-free plant protein.
Product overview
Wide Open Agriculture is a publicly listed ingredient company pioneering sustainable protein through lupin-based ingredients. The core product is the lupin protein isolate, which is transformed from lupin beans along with fibers, oils, and bioactive compounds. These ingredients serve the food, beverage, wellness, and beauty industries, enabling brands to create high-protein baked goods, snacks, and plant-based dairy and meat alternatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lupin-Based Milk Substitutes Vegetable-based, lactose-free milk substitutes developed and produced by Prolupin from the blue sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), intended for food and beverage manufacturers and consumers seeking plant-based dairy alternatives.
- Lupin Protein Ingredients Functional lupin-derived protein ingredients (protein isolates, fibers, oils, and bioactive compounds) extracted from lupin beans, supplied to food, beverage, and nutrition industry manufacturers for use in plant-based dairy, baked goods, snacks, and other applications.
Companies that use Prolupin
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Prolupin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Prolupin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Goodman Fielder IngredientsminorNew CEO Craig Swan brings B2B food ingredients experience from Goodman Fielder Ingredients, aligning with WOA's strategic focus on commercialising its lupin protein platform and scaling operations.
- NutrasweetminorNew CEO Craig Swan has experience at Nutrasweet, bringing ingredient industry expertise to support WOA's commercial expansion.
- GivaudanminorNew CEO Craig Swan has experience at Givaudan, bringing global flavor and ingredient industry knowledge to WOA.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Prolupin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oatly: Swedish plant-based milk leader specializing in oat milk. Direct competitor to Prolupin in the plant-based dairy beverage category, though differentiated by oat (vs. lupin) protein source.
- Califia Farms: US premium plant-based beverage brand offering almond, oat, and coconut milks and creamers. Direct competitor in plant-based dairy beverages, similarly positioned in the premium/specialty channel.
- Ripple Foods: US plant-based milk company using pea protein. Highly comparable to Prolupin as a non-mainstream-protein-source plant milk brand pursuing differentiated nutritional and sustainability positioning.
- Minor Figures: UK-based plant-based milk brand focused on barista-grade oat milk. Comparable specialty plant-milk brand pursuing foodservice and premium retail channels with a single-category focus.
- Plenish: UK plant-based drinks brand offering organic plant milks. Comparable smaller-scale European plant-milk brand competing in specialty, organic, and premium retail channels.
- Wide Open Agriculture: Australian publicly-listed lupin protein company developing isolates, fibres, oils, and bioactive compounds for B2B food/beverage/wellness applications. The only other well-known pure-play lupin protein company and the closest functional analogue.
- Lup'Ingredients: French company specializing in lupin protein ingredients for the food industry. Closest direct competitor to Prolupin in the lupin protein ingredient space and the most relevant European peer.
- Elmhurst 1925: US plant-based milk company using nuts, grains, and seeds. Comparable specialty plant-milk producer focused on clean-label, premium positioning across multiple non-dairy inputs.
Broad incumbents
- Alpro (Danone): European plant-based dairy brand owned by Danone offering a broad portfolio of plant milks, yogurts, creams, and desserts. Major incumbent competitor across all plant-based dairy categories Prolupin addresses.
Emerging players
- Good Karma Foods: US plant-based milk and yogurt brand built around flaxmilk as its differentiated ingredient. Comparable as a smaller specialty plant-milk brand using a non-mainstream ingredient source to compete against larger incumbents.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Prolupin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prolupin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Prolupin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prolupin 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 Prolupin
What does Prolupin do?
Prolupin develops, produces, and markets vegetable-based, lactose-free milk substitutes derived from the blue sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius). The company extracts protein and other components from lupin beans to create plant-based dairy alternatives and functional food ingredients. Its products target food and beverage manufacturers as well as end consumers seeking sustainable, lactose-free plant protein.
Is Prolupin a public or private company?
Prolupin is a public company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Prolupin founded?
Prolupin was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Prolupin based?
Prolupin is headquartered in Grimmen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Prolupin make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Lupin-based Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are B2B Ingredient Supply.
Who are Prolupin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oatly, Califia Farms, Ripple Foods, Minor Figures, Plenish, Wide Open Agriculture, Lup'Ingredients and Elmhurst 1925. Alpro (Danone) is listed as a broad incumbent. Good Karma Foods is listed as an emerging player.
Does Prolupin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prolupin.
What industry is Prolupin in?
Prolupin's product category is Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHAJAA, Plant-Based Milk & Creamer Processing (Oat, Soy, Almond, Coconut, Blends), with a secondary code of CRADACAF, Dairy Alternatives (Plant-Based Milk, Yogurt, Creamers). Its NAICS code is 3115 and its SIC code is 2020.