Primogene, a biotechnology startup, has raised €4.1 million in a Seed funding round to scale its platform for the sustainable and industrial production of complex, high-value biomolecules.
The round was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, better ventures, Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft, Golzern Holding GmbH, FS Life Science Investment GmbH, and c-LEcta founder Marc Struhalla.
The company plans to use the funding to expand its intellectual property portfolio, strengthen industry partnerships, and increase production capacity for large-scale applications in nutrition, personal care, and pharmaceuticals.
What The Company Does
Primogene develops biomolecules that are structurally identical to naturally occurring compounds but produced through scalable enzymatic processes. Its platform focuses on multi-enzyme biomanufacturing, enabling the production of functional ingredients in a way that is more sustainable and cost-efficient than traditional methods.
A key focus area is human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), particularly disialyllacto-N-tetraose (DSLNT), a complex molecule associated with health benefits for premature infants. These molecules are typically difficult and expensive to produce at scale using conventional fermentation techniques.
Primogene’s approach uses enzymatic systems to overcome these limitations, aiming to enable industrial-scale production of structurally complex compounds that are otherwise constrained by biological and manufacturing bottlenecks.
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Market Context / Industry Background
Biomanufacturing is increasingly being explored as an alternative to traditional chemical synthesis and fermentation processes, particularly for high-value ingredients used in nutrition, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Demand for sustainable production methods is growing as industries face pressure to reduce environmental impact and improve supply chain resilience.
However, many existing production methods struggle with scalability, cost efficiency, and biological complexity, especially when producing multi-step or structurally intricate molecules such as HMOs. This has created opportunities for enzymatic and cell-free approaches that can operate with greater precision and fewer resource constraints.
The European biotech sector has also seen increased investment in platform technologies that combine synthetic biology, enzymology, and industrial-scale manufacturing, reflecting broader interest in sustainable industrial innovation.
In addition, governments and private investors are increasingly supporting early-stage companies working on deep biotech infrastructure, particularly those capable of translating lab-scale breakthroughs into commercially viable production systems. Partnerships between research institutions and startups are also accelerating technology transfer, helping reduce the time required to move from discovery to industrial application. As regulatory frameworks evolve, there is growing momentum for biomanufacturing solutions that can meet both performance and sustainability requirements at scale.
This is also driving interest in modular production facilities that can be deployed closer to end markets, reducing logistics costs and improving supply chain flexibility and resilience globally.
Founder Commentary
Co-founder and CEO Reza Mahour said the funding will enable the company to advance its next phase of development by scaling production, expanding its team, and accelerating the industrial rollout of its products.
Co-founder and COO Linda Karger emphasized the company’s long-term mission of making complex bio-based ingredients widely accessible, highlighting their potential impact on human health across different life stages.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The new capital will support Primogene’s efforts to scale its enzymatic production platform and bring its first industrial applications closer to market. A significant portion of the funding will be directed toward expanding the company’s intellectual property portfolio and strengthening collaborations with industry partners.
Primogene also plans to invest in scaling its manufacturing capabilities to support commercial deployment of its biomolecules across nutrition, personal care, and pharmaceutical applications.
About Primogene
Primogene is a biotechnology company based in Leipzig, Germany, developing enzymatic bioprocesses for the sustainable production of functional biomolecules. Its platform enables the creation of complex ingredients used in nutrition, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries, with a focus on scalable, cost-efficient, and environmentally responsible manufacturing solutions.
