Formo raises US$61 million to scale Koji protein cheese

German food fermentation startup, Formo, has secured US$61 million in Series B funding to scale its operations. The round includes existing investors, such as Foodlabs, EQT Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Elevat3 Capital and Grazia Capital, and welcomes new investors, such as Sazaby League, Seven Ventures, Woodline Partners, The Nature Conservancy as well as the REWE Group, Europe's second largest retailer. Formo's Matthias Schmalisch (VP of R&D) and REWE's Clement Tischer (Head of FoodTech) are both speaking at The Future of Protein Production Amsterdam on 23/24 October 2024.

Formo is setting new standards in dairy alternatives with the launch of the world's first Koji Protein-based cheese alternatives. Frischhain and Camembritz, two pioneering products are now available at over 2,000 REWE, BILLA and METRO stores across Germany and Austria.

The global cheese market, valued at over US$240 billion, presents a significant opportunity for disruption. Compared to conventional cream cheese, the environmental impact of Formo´s products speaks for itself: Frischhain production generates 65% fewer emissions, uses 83% less land, and requires 96% less water. Formo's mission is to create products that delight people and are kind to the planet.

"Koji has been used in Japanese cuisine for centuries to make miso, sake, and soy sauce, and it's the key to our innovation. Koji Protein resembles whey protein, making it the perfect foundation for our cheese alternatives," commented Dr Sandra Wilde, Vice President of Food at Formo.

Formo is pioneering micro fermentation, a process in which naturally occurring cultures are fermented in a nutrient-rich bath to create Koji Protein. Traditional cheesemakers replace cow's milk with plant-based fats and Koji Protein, applying time-honored fermentation methods to craft these products. Formo's cheese alternatives are free from lactose, hormones, gluten, preservatives, and additives-yet they're rich in creaminess and flavor.

With the new funding, the company aims to achieve key milestones, including international expansion, diversifying the product range, driving revenue growth and achieving net profitability by 2027. Formo is also advancing its technology platform to accelerate the commercialization of animal-free casein products, which will expand the portfolio to include hard cheeses, opening further opportunities in the market.

"Everything is coming together – the launch of our first products, the positive results of our environmental analyses, and the successful funding round," stated Raffael Wohlgensinger, Co-Founder & CEO of Formo. "This is the result of five years of intensive research and product development, as well as the work of an incredibly passionate team. Game on!"