€7M in Fresh Funding Positions Chromologics to Launch Its Fermentation-Based Red Colourant

Courtesy: Chromologics

Chromologics has secured €7 million in new funding to accelerate regulatory approval and commercial readiness for Natu.Red®, its flagship fermentation-derived natural colour. The round, backed by existing investors Novo Holdings and EIFO, alongside Döhler Ventures, Collateral Good Ventures, and Synergetic, brings the Danish biotech’s total capital raised to nearly €20 million and cements its position in the rapidly evolving market for sustainable colorants.

The company, a spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark, sits at the forefront of a broader shift toward biomanufactured food ingredients, a trend gaining steady traction across Europe and the United States as brands search for stable, cost-competitive, and climate-aligned alternatives to synthetic and crop-derived additives. Recent bans, most notably the removal of synthetic Red 3 in the U.S., have intensified the need for natural pigments that can withstand heat, pH fluctuations, and complex processing environments without driving up costs or exposing manufacturers to supply volatility.

Against this backdrop, Chromologics has spent the past four years validating its production platform and working with more than 90 food companies across multiple categories, mirroring the growing interest seen by other precision-fermentation ingredient pioneers shaping today’s reformulation landscape. While competitors in the natural colour space often rely on agricultural feedstocks with inconsistent yields or limited stability, Chromologics’ approach offers a more predictable supply chain that is independent of climate, geography, or season, a value proposition increasingly echoed across the biomanufacturing sector, from alternative cocoa to next-generation fats and proteins.

CEO Gerit Tolborg said the renewed investor commitment reflects both confidence in the company’s progress and recognition of where the industry is heading. Biomanufacturing, she noted, will be essential to stabilising food supply chains, and requires investors who understand long-term development cycles. Chromologics has already demonstrated the “cost efficiency, scalability, safety, and product-market fit” of Natu.Red®, positioning the team well for the next phase.

Courtesy: Chromologics

For Novo Holdings, which has supported Chromologics since 2020, the case has only strengthened. Thomas Grotkjær, Partner at the firm’s Planetary Health Investments team, underscored the maturity of the technology and the growing demand from food manufacturers for natural alternatives with robust technical performance. He pointed to Chromologics’ ability to deliver a differentiated pigment with a competitive cost profile and emphasised that dialogues with strategic players suggest a clear pathway to rapid scale once approval is granted.

EIFO echoed that perspective, situating Chromologics within the green transition and the need for ingredient solutions that outperform today’s limited natural colour options. Partner Sara Sande said the company’s fermentation-derived pigments stand out for their stability, sustainability, and commercial potential, and that the investment aligns with EIFO’s mandate to advance Danish technologies with global relevance.

The new capital will now support EFSA and FDA regulatory submissions, followed by commercial launch. Chromologics is preparing to scale with a large-scale CMO partner that offers high-capacity fermentation facilities, a critical step for any precision-fermentation ingredient producer seeking to move from pilot to industrial volumes. Similar to recent moves seen across the sector, including in alt-lipids and functional proteins, Chromologics is building the infrastructure required to meet the needs of multinational manufacturers from day one.

Demand appears ready. The company reports strong interest across meat, confectionery, and plant-based categories, all of which have struggled with reliable, heat-stable red pigments, particularly as brands pursue cleaner labels, regulatory compliance, and climate-forward sourcing strategies. Because Natu.Red® is suitable for vegan, kosher, and halal applications; its market reach spans multiple product segments and regions.

Döhler Ventures Director Rodrigo Hortega de Velasco said Chromologics is well positioned for “the forthcoming shift towards more natural and better-performing ingredients,” adding that fermentation enables stable, scalable, cost-competitive colourants aligned with tightening regulations and surging consumer expectations.

With a clear regulatory roadmap, high-capacity production partnerships, and investors willing to bet on the long game, Chromologics is moving steadily into commercial territory. As food manufacturers reevaluate legacy colour systems and governments intensify scrutiny of synthetic additives, the company’s progress signals what the next generation of natural pigments could look like, and how fermentation is reshaping the foundation of food ingredients for a more resilient and sustainable era.