Copenhagen-based REDUCED has raised €4 million in a Series A extension, bringing its total Series A funding to €12 million. The round was co-led by Delphinus Venture Capital, with participation from existing investors Novo Holdings, ECBF, and EIFO. REDUCED develops fermentation processes that convert food industry side streams into natural savoury ingredients for large-scale food manufacturers. Its platform combines solid-state fermentation with controlled reaction steps to produce flavour compounds such as umami and Maillard notes, positioned as alternatives to conventional hydrolysed vegetable proteins and yeast extracts. The new capital will be used to scale production, strengthen quality and supply chain systems, expand its ingredient portfolio, and support commercial partnerships as it transitions from technology development to industrial supply.
The global savoury ingredients market represents a multi-billion-euro opportunity, driven by increasing demand for natural alternatives. At the same time, food manufacturers face mounting pressure to reformulate products with clean-label ingredients while maintaining taste, functionality and cost e iciency. Existing natural flavour solutions often rely on HVP’s or meat and yeast extracts that lack the complexity, depth and top notes required in customer relevant applications.
To address this challenge, REDUCED has developed a proprietary fermentation platform that converts underutilised food processing side streams into high-value, clean-label ingredients at industrial scale. By combining solid state fermentation with controlled reaction processes, the company consistently generates complex flavour profiles tailored to the needs of multinational food producers and food service operators.
Unlike conventional clean-label alternatives, REDUCED’s platform produces a broad spectrum of naturally derived flavour compounds, including umami, kokumi and Maillard reaction notes, delivering roasted character, depth and sensory complexity comparable to traditional flavour systems. By valorising side streams from the food industry, the company also contributes to a more circular and resource-e icient food system.
The Series A extension marks a decisive step in REDUCED’s transition from technology development to full industrial supply. The capital will be used to expand the company’s ingredient portfolio, scale production to meet growing demand from multinational customers, and further strengthen commercial capabilities.
Over the past year, REDUCED has doubled its industrial partnerships and expanded its product portfolio across multiple application categories, underlining the increasing market traction of its fermentation-based flavour platform. With this funding, the company is positioning itself as a long-term ingredient partner to global food and ingredient producers seeking high-performance, clean-label flavour solutions.
Emil Munck de Voss, co-founder and CEO, REDUCED, said: 2026 will be focused on continuing the industrialisation of our core technology, and this investment enables us to accelerate that journey. We are seeing strong momentum with industry and food service partners across Europe, and our ambition is to deepen these collaborations. Being well capitalised, with strong backing from both new and existing investors, is an important step in achieving this.”
The expanded investor group strengthens REDUCED’s capital base as the company scales its ingredient platform and increases its focus on industrial customers and large-scale production.
Mathias Brink Lorenz, Managing Partner, Delphinus Venture Capital, said: “We are very pleased to join the strong investor group backing REDUCED and look forward to being part of the scaling journey in industrial food ingredients. REDUCED has the rare combination of a strong commercial founding team coupled with a solid technical platform to scale from. A perfect match for the investment focus of our fund.”
Thomas Grotkjær, Partner, Planetary Health Investments, Novo Holdings, said: “Reduced has built a compelling enzyme- and fermentation-based platform for producing high-value, natural savoury ingredients. This financing will help strengthen quality systems, scale production, and accelerate progress with key industrial partners. We are pleased to continue supporting Reduced as the company advances into its next phase of growth.”
Jowita Sewerska, Investment Director, ECBF, adds: “Industrial food ingredient production must become both more sustainable and more resilient. REDUCED’s scalable fermentation platform demonstrates how circular bio-based technologies can deliver competitive, high-performance solutions to global food manufacturers.”
Sara Færch Hansen, Senior Associate, EIFO, said: “We see a robust technological foundation, strong market need, and a highly capable team at REDUCED. Their approach shows how innovative Danish foodtech can deliver both sustainability and high-value industrial ingredients. We are pleased to contribute to the company’s continued development as it scales its platform and strengthens its collaborations with major industry partners.”
Click to read more funding news.
Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/reduced-raises-e4m-series-a/
