Active Micro Technologies

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.

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

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

• Natural cosmetic preservatives
• Antimicrobial ingredients
• Fermentation-based ingredients
• Personal care actives
• Botanical extract ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincolnton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Active Concepts, LLCcoreOthersParent 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, SrlcoreOthersEuropean subsidiary based in Italy responsible for European sales and customer support.
• Active Concepts AsiacoreOthersAsian subsidiary based in Taiwan serving customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Formulator Sample ShopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party platform for distributing sample quantities of cosmetic ingredients to formulators.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad 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

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Active Micro Technologies