What JSK Bio Co. does

JSK Bio Co., operating as J2KBIO (제이투케이바이오), is a South Korea-based biotechnology company that develops and supplies proprietary cosmetic and personal care ingredients to B2B customers. Founded in 2014 as JSK Bio and rebranded to J2KBIO in February 2019, the company has been listed on KOSDAQ (stock code 01553129) since March 2021 and operates from its headquarters in Cheongju, South Korea. J2KBIO sells a portfolio of 14 cosmetic ingredients organized into three product categories: natural extract-based ingredients (Repaeonia, METACool, Coolthyme, ERASER X, Colabright HD, METAMO PRO, Cyrich BG, OKRAISE, AurEssence), microbial fermentation ingredients (LactoPol, ProbioMETA S463 Ⅱ, METABIOME HK-503, ProbioMETA G55), and exosome-based ingredients (METAexosome L55), alongside a proprietary broad-spectrum preservative system (J-Guard).

The company's core technology platform is J2K METABIOME, a proprietary microbial fermentation technology supported by the J2K BIOBANK containing approximately 1,000 skin-beneficial microorganisms isolated from Korean natural sources. Additional proprietary capabilities include METAexosome technology for isolating and purifying exosomes from microorganisms, Dual Microbial Synbiotics (co-culture fermentation producing metabolites not found in pure cultures), METABIOME Optimizing for customized ingredient development, and MicroBubble Extraction (patent No. 10-2222661), which reduces electricity consumption by up to 60% during natural ingredient extraction. J2KBIO holds multiple granted patents including strain-specific patents (Saccharomyces cerevisiae J2K-23 and Bacillus subtilis J2K-51, No. 10-2588606) and skin microbiome evaluation method patents (anti-wrinkle No. 10-2544440, anti-inflammatory No. 10-2544441). Product certifications include ECOCERT compliance, EWG Green grade, and "China Compliant" designations.

J2KBIO operates a B2B direct sales model, selling cosmetic raw materials to cosmetics manufacturers, brand companies, and bio-material distributors via a "material request" (자료요청) inquiry system on its product pages. The company maintains both Korean (j2kbio.com) and English (j2kbio.com/eng) websites, indicating active international outreach. FY2025 consolidated revenue was KRW 32.97 billion (approximately $23M USD), with the company returning to profitability (consolidated net income KRW 2.67 billion) after a 2024 net loss. Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed, and no named anchor customers are publicly identified.

Name

JSK Bio Co.

Legal name

주식회사 제이투케이바이오

Website

https://j2kbio.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

J2KBIO is a South Korean B2B biotechnology company that develops and supplies proprietary microbial fermentation ingredients, natural extracts, and exosome-based cosmetic raw materials to cosmetics manufacturers and brand companies, anchored by its J2K METABIOME platform and ~1,000-strain BIOBANK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetic Ingredients (Bio-based raw materials)

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Bacteriocins & Biopreservatives (Nisin, Natamycin, Pediocin) (AFAJAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural Antimicrobials & Clean-Label Preservatives (Plant Extracts, Essential Oils, Fermented Extracts) (AFAJAFAF), Bio-based Food & Flavor Ingredients (Non-fuel Co-products: sweeteners, organic acids, flavors) (EUAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Cosmetic ingredients
• Microbial fermentation
• Natural extract ingredients
• Skincare raw materials
• Biotechnology ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheongju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cosmetic Ingredient Sales: J2KBIO generates revenue primarily through the direct sale of proprietary cosmetic raw materials, including microbial fermentation ingredients (METABIOME brand), natural extracts, preservatives, and other specialty ingredients to cosmetics manufacturers and brand companies. The company sells directly to B2B customers as evidenced by the '자료요청' (material request) inquiry system on product pages. Financial statements show annual revenue of approximately 31-33 billion KRW from ongoing operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

JSK Bio Co. (J2KBIO) develops and sells proprietary cosmetic raw materials—including microbial fermentation ingredients under the J2K METABIOME brand, natural extract-based ingredients (e.g., Repaeonia, METACool, Coolthyme, ERASER X, Colabright HD, METAMO PRO, Cyrich BG, OKRAISE, AurEssence), microbial fermentation ingredients (LactoPol, ProbioMETA S463 II, METABIOME HK-503, ProbioMETA G55), exosome-based ingredients (METAexosome L55), and the J-Guard preservative system—to cosmetics manufacturers and skincare brand companies. The portfolio is built on the company's patented J2K METABIOME fermentation platform, ~1,000-strain J2K BIOBANK, and MicroBubble Extraction technology (Patent No. 10-2222661).

Product overview

JSK Bio Co. (제이투케이바이오) is a bio-materials development company specializing in natural ingredients and microbial fermentation for the cosmetics industry. The company offers a portfolio of 14 cosmetic ingredient products across three main categories: natural extract-based ingredients (Repaeonia, METACool, Coolthyme, ERASER X, Colabright HD, METAMO PRO, Cyrich BG, OKRAISE, AurEssence), microbial fermentation ingredients (LactoPol, ProbioMETA S463 Ⅱ, METABIOME HK-503, ProbioMETA G55), and exosome-based ingredients (METAexosome L55). The company leverages its proprietary J2K METABIOME technology platform and BIOBANK containing approximately 1,000 skin-beneficial microorganisms, along with innovative extraction technologies including MicroBubble Extraction (Patent No. 10-2222661).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• J2K METABIOME®: Core microbial fermentation technology platform and product brand. Uses microorganisms isolated from natural materials to develop high-functional cosmetic ingredients. Includes sub-technologies: METABIOME® BIOBANK (microbial library of ~1,000 skin-beneficial microorganisms), METAexosome™ (exosome isolation and purification from microorganisms), and METABIOME® Dual Microbial Synbiotics (dual fermentation technology).
• METAexosome™
• J-Guard™

Products and services

• Repaeonia Repaeonia is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the company's natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers and skincare brand companies as a branded raw material.
• METACool METACool is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, sold as a branded raw material to cosmetics manufacturers.
• Coolthyme Coolthyme is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers and skincare brand companies.
• ERASER X ERASER X is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, marketed as a branded raw material for cosmetics manufacturers.
• Colabright HD Colabright HD is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, sold as a branded raw material to cosmetics manufacturers.
• METAMO PRO METAMO PRO is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers and skincare brand companies.
• Cyrich BG Cyrich BG is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, supplied as a branded raw material to cosmetics manufacturers.
• OKRAISE OKRAISE is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, supplied as a branded raw material to cosmetics manufacturers.
• AurEssence AurEssence is a J2KBIO cosmetic ingredient product from the natural extract-based ingredient portfolio, supplied as a branded raw material to cosmetics manufacturers.
• LactoPol LactoPol is a J2KBIO microbial fermentation ingredient produced via the J2K METABIOME platform, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers as a branded raw material.
• ProbioMETA S463 II ProbioMETA S463 II is a J2KBIO microbial fermentation ingredient produced via the J2K METABIOME platform, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers as a branded raw material.
• METABIOME HK-503 METABIOME HK-503 is a J2KBIO microbial fermentation ingredient produced via the proprietary J2K METABIOME platform, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers as a branded raw material.
• ProbioMETA G55 ProbioMETA G55 is a J2KBIO microbial fermentation ingredient produced via the J2K METABIOME platform, supplied to cosmetics manufacturers as a branded raw material.
• METAexosome L55 METAexosome L55 is a J2KBIO exosome-based cosmetic ingredient produced via the proprietary METAexosome technology (isolation and purification of exosomes from microorganisms), supplied to cosmetics manufacturers as a branded raw material.
• J-Guard Preservative System J-Guard is J2KBIO's broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative system combining ingredients that inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, yeasts, and molds, applicable to oil-based and water-based products; composed of EWG Green-grade ingredients for low skin irritation with moisturizing and soothing effects. Sold as a standalone B2B cosmetic raw material to manufacturers and brand companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• MicroBubble Extraction reduces electricity usage by up to 60%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Symrise: Symrise is a global flavors, fragrances and cosmetic-ingredients supplier with a Personal Care segment that includes fermentation- and biotech-derived cosmetic actives. Symrise's Diana division and biotech capabilities overlap with J2KBio's METABIOME platform, both targeting cosmetic formulators with bio-active ingredients.
• Evonik Industries: Evonik's Care Solutions division supplies specialty ingredients to global cosmetics and personal-care manufacturers, including fermentation-derived actives and cosmetic excipients. Comparability with J2KBio comes from a shared specialty biotech actives product set serving the same B2B cosmetic-formulator customer base, but at vastly larger scale.
• Givaudan: Givaudan's Active Beauty business develops bio-fermented and natural-origin cosmetic active ingredients, including microbiome-inspired and fermentation-derived ingredients, directly comparable to J2KBio's METABIOME and METAexosome portfolio. Both sell to global cosmetics brand manufacturers as ingredient suppliers.
• Lonza Group: Lonza operates microbial-production capabilities and serves the personal-care market with cosmetic actives, preservatives and excipients, alongside its larger pharma manufacturing business. Relevant to J2KBio because of overlapping fermentation-based manufacturing capabilities and shared customers in cosmetic ingredient markets.
• Croda International: Croda is a UK-listed global specialty ingredients supplier serving personal care, life sciences and consumer care markets. Overlap with J2KBio through Croda's biotech-derived cosmetic actives (Sederma, Alban Muller acquisitions) and large personal-care portfolio gives both companies the same B2B cosmetics-manufacturer customer base and overlapping biotechnology fermentation capabilities.
• dsm-firmenich: dsm-firmenich operates a Personal Care & Aroma segment supplying bio-based and fermentation-derived cosmetic ingredients, vitamins, and skin bioactives to global beauty customers. The company's biotech capabilities and global personal-care reach make it a direct functional comparator to J2KBio, though at far greater scale.
• BASF (Care Chemicals): BASF's Care Chemicals division supplies a broad portfolio of personal-care and cosmetic ingredients, including bioactives and fermentation-derived materials, to global formulators. Comparable to J2KBio because it serves the same B2B cosmetics ingredient customer base but on a vastly larger scale and with broader portfolio breadth.

Direct peers

• Seppic (Air Liquide): Seppic is a France-based specialty ingredients supplier (owned by Air Liquide) developing cosmetic actives, excipients and preservative systems, including biotechnology-derived ingredients. Comparable to J2KBio as a specialty B2B cosmetic ingredients supplier focused on differentiated actives and preservative solutions.
• Ichimaru Pharcos: Ichimaru Pharcos is a Japanese specialty supplier of natural and botanical cosmetic ingredients (plant extracts, fermentation-derived actives) selling to cosmetics formulators. Comparable to J2KBio in core activity (natural/botanical cosmetic ingredients) and target customer (Japanese/Korean cosmetics brands).
• Solabia Group: Solabia is a French family-owned specialty ingredients company producing biotechnology-derived cosmetic actives, polysaccharides, and natural preservatives for the personal-care industry. Closely comparable to J2KBio in business model, scale and technology approach (microbial fermentation for cosmetic ingredients).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 JSK Bio Co.