Chromologics

DTU spinout raises DKK 14 M in seed financing

Fødevareproduktion Fermentering

DTU spinout Chromologics, receives DKK 14 M to accelerate the development and approval of ChromoRed, a natural and sustainable red food coloring.

Chromologics was founded by a number of researchers from among others DTU Bioengineering, and their products are therefore based in cutting-edge knowledge about fermentation processes. The company aims at changing the way natural dyes are produced, and have developed a fermentation-based dyeing platform for the production of ChromoColors, its high-performance and sustainable food dyes.

“Chromologics is a very good example of the applied research we see emerging from the university laboratories and establishing as growing companies with a clear sustainability focus that can make a positive impact”, says Head of DTU Bioengineering Bjarke Bak Christensen.  

Sustainable production of natural colors

ChromoRed has the potential to be the first natural dye produced exclusively by sustainable fermentation processes instead of being extracted from plants or animals. In a market characterized by increasing consumer awareness of sustainability and health, it is assumed that market opportunities are more than DKK 12 billion.

Chromologics was founded by CEO Gerit Tolborg, CSO Anders Ødum, Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen, Andreas Laustsen and Henrik Dalbøge in 2017, several of whom are still employed at DTU Bioengineering.

"Chromologics is a very good example of the applied research we see emerging from the university laboratories and establishing as growing companies with a clear sustainability focus that can make a positive impact"
Bjarke Bak Christensen, Head of DTU Bioengineering

CEO Gerit Tolborg made the scientific breakthrough in 2016 when she developed a process that made it possible to isolate and identify a new class of pigments. The new process opens up for the use of ChromoRed in consumer products, and CEO Gerit Tolborg greatly appreciates that the company can now accelerate development:

“We are very pleased to welcome these strong and experienced investors to Chromologics. Their support provides validation for our strategy to develop better and more sustainable food colorants. They recognize the extraordinary economic opportunity in introducing lab-grown food colorants to the market at a time where alternative meats and food safety is a high consumer demand. This investment will allow us to accelerate the development of our flagship product ChromoRed and maximize the potential of our platform as we develop food colorants that meet the needs of industry and consumers.”

The investment

DTU spinout Chromologics has closed a seed investment round with EUR 1.9 million in funding, led by Novo Holdings and supported by Nordic Food Tech and Vækstfonden.

Find out more at Chromologics.com and LinkedIn.