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Mycoverse, a spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark, has raised €2.4 million in pre-seed funding to develop biological crop protection against potato late blight. The round was co-led by Future Food Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from Paulig’s venture arm, PINC. Mycoverse leverages an AI-driven platform to identify high-performing fungal strains and scalable production technology to create bioactive solutions that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. The new capital will support two years of field trials, moving the company closer to commercial validation, with future plans to expand its platform to other crops, including grapevines.
Using its AI-driven discovery platform, Mycoverse identifies promising fungal strains and develops bioactives providing superior crop protection. Combined with Mycoverse’s state-of-the-art fungal production technology, this approach enables scalable biological crop protection solutions designed to fit seamlessly into current farming systems. Its lead candidates have demonstrated strong performance in greenhouse trials.
Svend Petersen, CEO and co-founder of Mycoverse, commented: “This funding allows us to rapidly expand our field trials program, bringing us closer to delivering reliable biological crop protection products that farmers can adopt without changing their existing practices.”
The crop protection landscape in Europe is evolving in response to regulatory developments and growing demand for more sustainable agricultural practices. At the same time, farmers need reliable and cost-effective solutions to manage persistent disease pressures.
“We are impressed by the scientific depth of the team and the speed with which they are able to identify and screen high-performing biological candidates,” said Christian Kannemeier, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF. “The rapid development of their potato blight candidates, achieved in just five months, demonstrates the strength and efficiency of their platform.”
Potato late blight remains a significant challenge and represents an estimated $1.9 billion global market opportunity. This creates clear potential for innovative biobased solutions that support crop resilience while reducing environmental impact.
“As chemical crop protection products are phased out and growers are increasingly dealing with resistance to products that are still on the market, the need for new solutions has never been clearer,” said Kim Wagenaar, Investment Director at Future Food Fund. “Our investment strategy is guided by the Planetary Boundaries framework, supporting innovations that allow food production to operate within Earth’s safe limits. Mycoverse combines AI-driven discovery with advanced fungal production technology to deliver biological solutions that can match field performance while reducing systemic environmental pressure.”
Looking ahead, Mycoverse plans to expand its platform to additional crops, including grapevines, as regulatory institutions and agribusiness across Europe accelerate the shift toward biological crop protection.
PINC, the venture arm of Paulig, is focused on accelerating the transition away from chemical inputs in the food system. “As a food company reliant on sustainable agricultural value chains, we see significant potential in technologies that reduce chemical inputs without compromising reliability. Solutions that help maintain yields while supporting soil health, biodiversity and long‑term food security are essential for a resilient food system. Mycoverse’s approach combines strong science with a clear route to scale, making it a compelling addition to our portfolio,” said Rosemari Herrero, Senior Investment Manager at PINC.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/mycoverse-raises-e2-4m-pre-seed/
