Enifer
EMEA
Espoo
,
Finland
Scaleup
FOUNDED
2020
HEADCOUNT
21-100
FUNDING
Series B
Keywords:
filamentous_fungi, mycelium, mycoprotein, fermentation, continuous_bioprocessing, waste_valorization, food_protein, alternative_proteins, aquaculture
BUSINESS
Converts food industry side streams into PEKILO mycoprotein via fungal fermentation for human food, aquafeed, and pet food. Enifer is a Finnish mycoprotein company founded in 2020 as a spin-off from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, based in Espoo. €7M in debt from Finnish Climate Fund, and €12M in a Business Finland grant, totaling roughly €33M to fund its first commercial factory in Kirkkonummi, Finland. Partnerships include Skretting/Nutreco (aquafeed), Purina (pet food), and Valio (dairy)
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Core: fungal fermentation biotechnology for mycoprotein production from waste streams. Enifer's PEKILO® process uses a thermophilic fungal strain (originally developed in Finland in the 1970s for forest industry side streams) in continuous submerged fermentation to convert dilute agrifood by-products (vinasse, thin stillage, dairy permeates) into a protein- and fiber-rich mycoprotein powder. The company handles strain optimization, fermentation process development, and scale-up, with a 3,000 ton/year factory expected to begin production ramp-up in 2026
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
fungal fermentation; mycoprotein cultivation
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
PEKILO mycoprotein; PEKILO Aqua; PEKILO Pet