Key Takeaways
- Funding Milestone: Mycoverse has raised approximately $2.78 million (€2.4 million) in a pre-seed equity round co-led by Future Food Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).
- Target Disease: The capital will support biological solutions for potato late blight, a disease impacting a $2.2 billion ($1.9 billion EUR) global market.
- Technology Stack: The company utilizes an AI-driven discovery platform and proprietary fungal production technology to create scalable bioactives.
- Strategic Participation: PINC, the venture arm of Paulig, joined the round to support the reduction of chemical inputs in the food supply chain.
- Future Pipeline: Beyond potatoes, the DTU spin-out plans to expand its biological protection platform to other high-value crops like grapevines.
Mycoverse Accelerates Biological Solutions for Agriculture
Mycoverse, an agri-tech spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), has announced the successful closure of a $2.78 million (€2.4 million) pre-seed funding round. The investment was co-led by Future Food Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with additional participation from PINC, the venture arm of Paulig.
The company specializes in developing biological crop protection using fungi. By leveraging an AI-driven discovery platform, the team identifies fungal strains and develops bioactives designed to integrate into existing farming systems. This funding is earmarked for the development of its first commercial solution targeting potato late blight, a destructive disease currently facing increased resistance to traditional chemical treatments in Europe.
Scaling the Mycoverse AI Discovery Platform
The efficiency of the discovery process is a core component of the company’s growth. Mycoverse's lead candidates for potato blight were developed in five months and have already shown performance in greenhouse trials. The platform’s ability to screen high-performing biological candidates quickly is intended to meet the urgent demand for sustainable agricultural alternatives.
“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,” said Svend Petersen, CEO and co-founder of Mycoverse.
Investment Support for Mycoverse Growth
Investors highlighted the technical proficiency of the spin-out and the market necessity for bio-based solutions. As European regulations tighten around chemical pesticides, the transition toward biologicals is becoming a commercial priority for agribusinesses.
“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.”
Kim Wagenaar, Investment Director at Future Food Fund, added: “Mycoverse combines AI-driven discovery with advanced fungal production technology to deliver biological solutions that can match field performance while reducing systemic environmental pressure.”
Future Expansion into Diverse Crop Categories
While the immediate focus remains on the potato late blight market, Mycoverse intends to scale its technology across the broader agricultural sector. The company has identified grapevines as a future target for its fungal-based bioactives.
Rosemari Herrero, Senior Investment Manager at PINC, noted that the approach offers a clear route to scale: “Solutions that help maintain yields while supporting soil health, biodiversity and long-term food security are essential for a resilient food system.”
Note: Conversions are based on the exchange rate of 1.16 USD per 1 EUR (March 2026).
