Active Micro Technologies
Active Micro Technologies is a B2B supplier of naturally derived antimicrobial and multifunctional cosmetic ingredients, developed via probiotic fermentation and botanical extraction, and sold globally to cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers across North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLincolnton, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Active Micro Technologies does
Active Micro Technologies is a B2B specialty ingredient supplier that develops naturally derived antimicrobial and multifunctional ingredients for cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers. Founded in 1999 and operated as a trade name under Active Concepts, LLC (a North Carolina LLC), the company positions itself as a market leader in natural preservation alternatives to synthetic preservatives such as parabens, formaldehyde donors, and phenoxyethanol. It sells 16+ products across seven registered sub-brands (AMTicide, Leucidal, PhytoCide, FortiCulture, Arborcide, Synercide, ProBiocin) targeting formulators at cosmetic and personal care companies globally.
The company's core technology centers on fermentation of probiotic bacteria — primarily Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc kimchii — to produce bacteriocins and antimicrobial peptides, supplemented by botanical extraction (aspen bark, black currant, elderberry, lichen, garlic, ginger, wasabi) and coconut-derived lipopeptide signaling technology. The portfolio spans aqueous, oil-soluble, anhydrous, and powder treatment systems with claimed stability up to 70°C and pH 3-8, and several products are positioned as multifunctional, combining antimicrobial preservation with skin moisturization and anti-aging benefits. The most recent product, FortiCulture Coconut (2024), applies a Cradle to Cradle sustainability framework and ferments coconut MCTs with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce lipopeptides that signal keratinocytes to release antimicrobial peptides.
The business model is direct B2B sales of specialty ingredients in bulk to formulation chemists and product developers, with quote-based pricing and no publicly disclosed contracts. The company maintains wholly owned regional subsidiaries in Italy (Active Concepts Srl, Europe regional HQ in Bareggio/Milan) and Taiwan (Active Concepts Asia, Kaohsiung) alongside its North American headquarters in Lincolnton, NC. It holds industry certifications with COSMOS, NATRUE, and ECOCERT, and has been launching new product variants consistently from 2013 through 2024. No external institutional investment, public listing, acquisition history, or named customer logos are evident; the company appears to be privately held and founder/management-owned.
Active Micro Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Active Micro Technologies
- Legal name
- Active Concepts, LLC
- Website
- https://activemicrotechnologies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Active Micro Technologies is a B2B supplier of naturally derived antimicrobial and multifunctional cosmetic ingredients, developed via probiotic fermentation and botanical extraction, and sold globally to cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers across North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Active Micro Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Cosmetic Ingredients
- NAICS
- Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Natural Antimicrobials & Clean-Label Preservatives (Plant Extracts, Essential Oils, Fermented Extracts) (AFAJAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protective Cultures & Biopreservation (Anti-Listeria, Anti-Mold, Shelf-Life Cultures) (AFAJAJAF), Probiotics (Strains, Spore-Formers, Synbiotic Components) (AFAJAKAE), Cultures, Probiotics & Fermentation Ingredients (Starter Cultures, Yeast, Adjuncts) (CRADAOAI)
Keywords
Where Active Micro Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincolnton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Active Micro Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- B2B Ingredient Sales: Active Micro Technologies sells specialty ingredient solutions (natural antimicrobials and cosmetic actives) directly to cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers. Products are sold in bulk quantities to formulators who incorporate them into their finished products.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Active Micro Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Active Micro Technologies develops and supplies naturally derived antimicrobial and multifunctional ingredients for cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers. The company uses proprietary fermentation of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc kimchii) and botanical extraction processes to produce ingredients that provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection alongside cosmetic benefits such as skin conditioning, moisturization, and anti-aging effects.
Product overview
Active Micro Technologies is a B2B supplier of naturally derived antimicrobial ingredients for the cosmetic and personal care industry, offering over 16 distinct product lines. The portfolio centers on fermentation-derived antimicrobials using lactic acid bacteria (Leucidal® line), botanical extracts (PhytoCide line), and coconut-based ingredients. Products range from broad-spectrum antimicrobials (Leucidal® SF Complete, Leucidal® Liquid Complete) to specialized solutions like AMTicide® VAF for headspace protection, ProBiocin V™ for scalp care, and pressed powder preservatives (Leucidal® Liquid PT). The company emphasizes natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives, with ingredients that provide cosmetic benefits such as moisturization, skin conditioning, and anti-aging properties alongside antimicrobial efficacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AMTicide: Natural antimicrobial product line including AMTicide Coconut and AMTicide VAF for cosmetic preservation.
- Leucidal
- PhytoCide
- FortiCulture
- Arborcide
- Synercide
- ProBiocin
Products and services
- AMTicide® Coconut
- AMTicide® VAF
- FortiCulture Coconut
- Arborcide® OC
- Leucidal® Liquid
- Leucidal® Liquid Complete
- Leucidal® Liquid PT
- Leucidal® SF Complete
- Leucidal® SF Max
- Leucidal® SF Max Powder
- PhytoCide Aspen Bark Extract Powder
- PhytoCide Black Currant Powder
- PhytoCide Elderberry OS
- PhytoCide Lichen
- ProBiocin V™
- Synercide Asian Fusion
Quantifiable outcome
- 42-62% improvement in skin moisturization after 4 weeks with Leucidal Liquid Complete
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Active Micro Technologies
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Active Micro Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Active Micro Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Active Concepts, LLCcoreParent company and primary website operator for Active Micro Technologies. Active Concepts LLC owns the activemicrotechnologies.com domain and operates the product information website.
- Active Concepts, SrlcoreEuropean subsidiary based in Italy responsible for European sales and customer support.
- Active Concepts AsiacoreAsian subsidiary based in Taiwan serving customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Formulator Sample ShopminorThird-party platform for distributing sample quantities of cosmetic ingredients to formulators.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Active Micro Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- dsm-firmenich: Mega-merger of DSM and Firmenich operating one of the world's largest personal care ingredients portfolios, including biopreservation, fermentation, and probiotic actives. Competes head-to-head with AMT across the same global cosmetic customers.
- IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances): Global ingredients company with a Health & Biosciences division that supplies fermentation-derived cosmetic actives and natural preservation systems. Competes with AMT for the same global personal care accounts at much larger scale.
- Givaudan: Swiss fragrance and beauty actives leader with Active Beauty division covering botanical extracts, fermentation ingredients, and microbiome solutions that overlap directly with AMT's PhytoCide and Leucidal lines.
- Lonza Group: Swiss CDMO and specialty ingredients player with personal care microbiology and biopreservation offerings, including antimicrobial peptides and ferment-based ingredients overlapping with AMT's core technology.
- BASF (Care Chemicals division): German chemical major with a large personal care ingredients portfolio covering preservation, fermentation, and botanical actives. Serves the same cosmetic manufacturers with scale advantages and broader formulation libraries.
- Symrise: Global fragrance and flavor house with a substantial personal care ingredients portfolio, including microbiome, fermentation, and botanical actives that overlap with AMT's Leucidal, FortiCulture, and ProBiocin franchises at much larger scale.
- Croda International: UK-listed specialty ingredients giant serving personal care, with broad portfolios in bioactive, fermentation-derived, and botanical ingredients. Competes for the same cosmetic manufacturer accounts with deeper R&D and larger manufacturing footprint.
Direct peers
- Bio-Botanica: US-based botanical extract manufacturer serving personal care with antimicrobial and multifunctional plant-derived ingredients. Most directly comparable to AMT's PhytoCide botanical line in technology and customer base.
- Sharon Laboratories: Israel-headquartered specialist in preservative systems and antimicrobial solutions for personal care and cosmetics. Directly competes with AMT's Leucidal, AMTicide, and PhytoCide lines, particularly in broad-spectrum natural preservative blends.
- Inolex: US-based specialty ingredients company focused on natural, sustainable, and multifunctional ingredients for personal care, including preservative alternatives and fermentation-derived actives. Closest comparable in product positioning, customer base, and technology philosophy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Active Micro Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Active Micro Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Active Micro Technologies subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Active Micro Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Active Micro Technologies 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 Active Micro Technologies
What does Active Micro Technologies do?
Active Micro Technologies develops and supplies naturally derived antimicrobial and multifunctional ingredients for cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers. The company uses proprietary fermentation of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc kimchii) and botanical extraction processes to produce ingredients that provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection alongside cosmetic benefits such as skin conditioning, moisturization, and anti-aging effects.
Is Active Micro Technologies a public or private company?
Active Micro Technologies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Active Micro Technologies founded?
Active Micro Technologies was founded in 1999.
Where is Active Micro Technologies based?
Active Micro Technologies is headquartered in Lincolnton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Active Micro Technologies make money?
One revenue line is on record: B2B Ingredient Sales.
Who are Active Micro Technologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are dsm-firmenich, IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), Givaudan, Lonza Group, BASF (Care Chemicals division), Symrise and Croda International. Direct peers are Bio-Botanica, Sharon Laboratories and Inolex.
Does Active Micro Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Active Micro Technologies.
What industry is Active Micro Technologies in?
Active Micro Technologies's product category is Specialty Cosmetic Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAFAF, Natural Antimicrobials & Clean-Label Preservatives (Plant Extracts, Essential Oils, Fermented Extracts), with a secondary code of AFAJAJAF, Protective Cultures & Biopreservation (Anti-Listeria, Anti-Mold, Shelf-Life Cultures). Its NAICS code is 32561 and its SIC code is 2844.