Nous secures €2.315m seed funding led by dsm-firmenich Ventures
Nous, an Italian ingredient company developing functional ingredients for the food, beverage and nutraceutical sectors, has raised a €2.315 million seed round to progress its botanical functional ingredient Koncentra towards commercialisation. The round was led by dsm-firmenich Ventures, with participation from FoodSeed, the foodtech programme of CDP Venture Capital’s National Accelerator Network, and Eatable Adventures (Accelera Ventures).
Lorenzo Pessini, CEO of Nous
Funding to support clinical work and supply chain growth
The syndicate combines strategic and financial backing across ingredient development, foodtech commercialisation and international scale-up. dsm-firmenich Ventures will support further development, claims substantiation and market validation of Koncentra. Accelera Ventures, through Eatable Adventures, will contribute foodtech sector expertise and capital for market expansion, while CDP Venture Capital’s Fondo Acceleratori will back the scaling of Nous’ technological infrastructure and production capacity.
Koncentra is manufactured using Nous’ proprietary extraction technology and is formulated to support energy, focus and mood. Its functionality has been assessed through a preliminary comparison with caffeine, and a further clinical study is expected to be published by the end of 2026. The company will use the new funding to commission additional clinical studies, strengthen scientific substantiation and expand its supply chain across Europe and Asia.
Lorenzo Pessini, CEO of Nous, said: “This investment is an important milestone for Nous as we move from scientific validation towards wider commercialisation. Support from investors with deep expertise in ingredients, foodtech and market scale-up gives us the resources to strengthen the scientific position of Koncentra, expand our supply chain, and build the next generation of functional ingredients.”
Strategic partnership with dsm-firmenich
Alongside the funding round, Nous has entered a strategic partnership with dsm-firmenich to accelerate the global commercialisation of Koncentra. Under the partnership, dsm-firmenich will support the design of clinical trials to substantiate claims relating to energy, cognitive performance and physical performance, and will contribute regulatory knowledge and application expertise to refine product concepts and market readiness.
Koncentra is positioned as a caffeine-free alternative in the energy category, aiming to deliver sustained energy alongside focus and mood support without the jitters, anxiety or energy crashes often associated with traditional stimulants. dsm-firmenich cites data showing that around 68% of consumers globally report concern about their energy levels, with 44% of functional beverage claims linked to energy and 14% to brain and nerve support.
Ingrid Damen, Director, Global Business Development, Beverages at dsm-firmenich, said: “We believe that effective products must be rooted in strong science and supported by robust validation. Through this partnership, we are combining Nous’s breakthrough ingredient innovation with our expertise in clinical research, regulatory frameworks and global market development.”
Market expansion plans
Nous plans to expand Koncentra distribution into the US market from November 2026. By the end of 2027, the company aims to have published at least three clinical studies and to reach an annual production capacity of at least 60 tonnes.
Pessini added: “We see a clear opportunity to redefine the category by moving toward more balanced solutions. Koncentra represents a new generation of botanical ingredients, designed to deliver sustained energy alongside focus and mood support, without overstimulation.”
