Fermelanta

Fermelanta is a biotechnology company that uses microbial fermentation to produce plant-based chemicals, including secondary metabolites for use in medicines, cosmetics, and health foods. The company leverages precision fermentation technology to manufacture valuable chemical compounds that are traditionally extracted from plants, enabling sustainable and scalable production of bioactive molecules without agricultural dependency. By engineering microorganisms as production platforms, Fermelanta can produce specific secondary metabolites—naturally occurring compounds that often possess pharmacological, cosmetic, or nutritional properties—with consistent quality, higher purity, and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional plant extraction methods. The company targets the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and functional food industries, providing bio-based alternatives to petrochemical-derived or agriculturally sourced ingredients. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Nonoichi, Japan, Fermelanta has raised approximately $15 million in a Series A round backed by Beyond Next Ventures, Angel Bridge, Plug and Play Tech Center, SMBC Venture Capital, Keio Innovation Initiative, Norinchukin Capital, and Mitsubishi.