Prolupin announces Growth Financing Round led by Capricorn Partners and Novax
eCAPITAL NEWSAfter exceptional year-on-year growth since market introduction of its vegan Made with LUVE brand in 2015, the new financing will allow Prolupin to address the mass market for further growth and international expansion.
The round was led by Capricorn Partners, from its Capricorn Sustainable Chemistry Fund and on behalf of Quest for Growth, an independent manager of private and quoted equity funds that invest in minority shareholding positions of innovative companies with technology as competitive advantage and Novax, the Stockholm-based growth investor powered by the Swedish Axel Johnson family, hallmarked by their long-term commitments and prominent holdings within the food space. The round was initiated by existing investors Munich Venture Partners and eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS, who significantly contributed to this this round.
The Capricorn Partners and Novax investment brings a broad mix of technology expertise and trade network resources to Prolupin as it seeks to grow its plant-based offerings from lupines both B2B and B2C, including the non-dairy yoghurts, milks, ice creams and cream cheeses on the European market und the vegan Made with LUVE brand.
The addition of Capricorn and Novax to our team will enable us to accelerate the growth of Prolupin within B2B and B2C. The marketing and distribution we are now able to deploy over the coming years will put our unique Lupine Protein Isolate (LPI) as well as the vegan Made with LUVE brand center stage for customers and consumers aiming for a healthy, sustainable ingredient and lifestyle.
Malte Stampe (CEO at Prolupin)
Reiner Kuester, Chairman of the Supervisory Board said “we are delighted to welcome Capricorn and Novax and the expertise they bring to the board. This investment from industry experts further validates the potential of Prolupin to become a major player in plant-based foods.”
Bernd Arkenau, Partner at eCAPITAL added: “The successful completion of this growth financing round is another important milestone for the development of the company. This financing round allows the company to replicate its outstanding success in the German market so far in several international markets.”
Yvette Go, Senior Investment Manager at Capricorn Partners commented: “We were attracted by the potential of this innovative plant-based protein company. And we are very impressed with Prolupin’s unique approach of successfully proving the application potential of lupine with the Made with LUVE brand. As investors in technology companies we are excited to join forces in supporting the growth of Prolupin’s business using its unique technology advantage to expand in both B2B and B2C markets.”
Pär Warnström, Senior Investment Manager at Novax added: “We were impressed by Prolupin’s unique capability to process the potent lupine crop, and look forward to partner with Malte and the team on their journey towards becoming a pioneering leader in the field of healthy plant-based foods.”
About Prolupin
Prolupin is a spin out from the Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung (IVV) in Munich with deep scientific expertise and a patent protected process for producing protein isolates from lupines. The company produces and markets a range of purely plant-based non-dairy alternatives to yoghurts, milks, ice creams and cream cheeses to address the growing demand for tasty plant-based foods for consumers focused on health and sustainability. For further information contact Malte Stampe, CEO at ms@prolupin.de or www.prolupin.com and www.madewithluve.de
About Capricorn Partners
Capricorn Partners is an independent European manager of venture capital and equity funds, investing in innovative European companies with technology as competitive advantage. The investment team of Capricorn is composed of experienced investment managers with deep technology expertise and a broad industrial experience. Capricorn Partners is managing the venture capital funds Capricorn Sustainable Chemistry Fund, Capricorn Digital Growth Fund, Capricorn ICT Arkiv, Capricorn Health-tech Fund and Capricorn Cleantech Fund. In addition, it is the management company of Quest for Growth, quoted on NYSE Euronext Brussels, and the investment manager of Quest Cleantech Fund and Quest+, sub‐funds of Quest Management SICAV, registered in Luxembourg. Find more information at www.capricorn.be
About Novax
A long-term investor and partner to fast-growing businesses across Europe with strong teams, sector-leading positions and high-impact potential. Founded in 1999 and based in Stockholm, Novax is a part of the Swedish Axel Johnson Group. Investments include Academic Work, ApoEx, Bruce, Filippa K, Hedvig, Matsmart, Leeroy, RCO, STC and Voyado. Through our long-term and thesis-driven devotion to a limited number of sectors, we are committed to support pioneering businesses on their journeys toward market-leadership over the long-haul. Find more information under www.axeljohnson.se/bolag/novax
About eCAPITAL
eCAPITAL is a venture capital firm that provides early to growth stage funding to technology companies in the fields of software & information technology, cybersecurity, industry 4.0, new materials and cleantech. Founded in 1999, eCAPITAL has a history of supporting entrepreneurs determined to build companies with lasting significance. Partnering with eCAPITAL means joining an international network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and potential partners. eCAPITAL is located in Germany, currently manages funds with over EUR 220 million under management and was lead investor of some very successful German exits like sonnen or Novaled.
Contact
Prolupin GmbH
Malte Stampe
Tribseeser Chaussee 1
18507 Grimmen
eMail: ms@prolupin.de
www.prolupin.com
eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG
Sylvia Richter
Hafenweg 24
48155 Münster, Germany
Tel.: +49 251 70 37 67 0
eMail: info@ecapital.vc
www.ecapital.vc