Today we announce our co-investment in Zymoscope, a Rockstart portfolio company. The €960k seed round was led by Danish angel investor Mads Heine and Vaekstfonden with Rockstart as co-investor. Zymoscope was part of Rockstart AgriFood 2020 and their first round of private funding came during their participation in Rockstart AgriFood’s acceleration program. The startup plans to use the funding to expand the team and get key FTEs with strong skills in software development and sales.
Zymoscope is a Danish foodtech startup disrupting the growing fermentation market through data-driven fermentation management. They are enabling microbrewers to gain insights into their brewing process and to reduce waste with sensor technologies. Their solution provides remote access to real-time fermentation data, allowing brewers to better control and optimize fermentation processes. The current global craft beer market is expected to reach USD 500bn (€414bn) by 2025 with a CAGR of 20%. Zymoscope is currently working with six Danish breweries and aims to commercialize the product on the craft brewing market in 2021.
“Zymoscope is helping to digitize the centuries old technique of fermentation, which once again is poised to ignite our food industry. With a passion for the fermentation craft combined with the right mix of skills, the Zymoscope team are set to make a big impact on a growing segment, which is why we are excited at the opportunity to invest.”
Mark Durno, Managing Partner Rockstart AgriFood, commented:
“A huge milestone achieved. Looking back at one of our goals to raise a (pre)-seed round upon completion of the Rockstart AgriFood program, we can state we have achieved that. We would like to thank Rockstart, Vækstfonden and Mads Heine for taking the lead and for trusting in us. The capital will be used for expanding our team and getting key FTE with strong skills in software development and sales, in order to further develop our platform and officially commercialize our product in Q1 2022.”
Petros Venetopoulos, co-founder and CEO, Zymoscope ApS
“I have had the benefit of working closely together with the Founder team as a Rockstart mentor for 4 months prior to the investment. Despite very little business and startup experience, the Founders have impressed me with very strong team competences, and I am fully confident that their hard work and execution power will prove them successful. In addition, the ability to retrofit and monitor the fermentation process on a non-invasive basis is a much-needed approach that will benefit the entire food & beverage industry.”
Mads Heine, angel investor
At Rockstart, we empower early-stage startups starting with our accelerator program and continuing with co-investments up to Series B. Through the €18+ million AgriFood fund, Rockstart is dedicated to finding, investing in, and empowering top Agtech and Foodtech startups. The Rockstart AgriFood 2021 applications are now open with a deadline to apply by April 22, 2021.
