Fermented Future: A Mycoprotein Win in the Alt-Protein Winter
A Dutch mycoprotein maker’s €18M raise — and a first-of-its-kind EU approval — buck the alt-protein gloom.
TL;DR — Dutch food-tech firm The Protein Brewery raised an €18 million Series B extension after its mycoprotein ingredient Fermotein became the first whole-food novel mycelium ingredient approved under the EU’s Novel Food Regulation — a bright spot in a tough alt-protein funding climate.
On June 29, 2026, a Dutch food-tech firm turned a regulatory first into fresh capital.
The raise
The Protein Brewery, based in Breda, Netherlands, closed an oversubscribed €18 million Series B extension led by the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund, bringing total funding above €70 million. The round follows a landmark milestone: its mycoprotein ingredient Fermotein (from the fungus Rhizomucor pusillus) became the first whole-food novel mycelium ingredient approved under the EU Novel Food Regulation, about two weeks earlier.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Raise | €18M (Series B extension) |
| Total funding | >€70M |
| Milestone | First EU-approved whole-food mycelium |
| HQ | Breda, Netherlands |
What they said
"Building a completely new ingredient category takes patience and investment in the right activities, at the right time." — Thijs Bosch, CEO, The Protein Brewery
Why it matters
- A bright spot in a downturn. Fermentation is drawing capital while plant-based startups struggle.
- Regulatory unlock. EU novel-food approval clears a path to market across Europe.
- Capital discipline. Investors are backing proof and approvals over 2021-era hype.
FAQ
What did The Protein Brewery raise, and why does it matter?
It closed an €18 million Series B extension on June 29, 2026 (total funding now above €70 million), shortly after its Fermotein mycoprotein became the first whole-food novel mycelium ingredient approved under the EU Novel Food Regulation — a key step to selling across Europe.
What is Fermotein?
Fermotein is a mycoprotein ingredient made from the fungus Rhizomucor pusillus via fermentation. Its EU Novel Food approval makes it, per the company, the first whole-food novel mycelium ingredient cleared under that regulation.
Sources
- FoodBev — Protein Brewery closes €18M Series B extension
- FoodNavigator — next-gen alt-protein built on access
Image: “Mycelium in a petri dish” by Tobi Kellner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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