Danish agri-tech start-up Mycoverse has raised €2.4 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate development of a biological crop protection product targeting potato late blight. The round was co-led by Future Food Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from PINC, the venture arm of Paulig.
The company, a spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark, is developing fungal-based bioactives as alternatives to chemical crop protection products. The new capital will fund two years of field trials aimed at commercial validation of its lead candidates, with an initial focus on potato late blight, one of Europe’s most damaging crop diseases.
Potato late blight remains a persistent challenge for growers and represents an estimated $1.9 billion global market. At the same time, European agriculture is facing tightening regulatory constraints on chemical pesticides and increasing pressure to reduce environmental impacts.
Mycoverse uses an AI-driven discovery platform to identify promising fungal strains and develop bioactive compounds for crop protection. The company combines this with proprietary fungal production technology designed to support commercial-scale manufacturing and integration into existing farming systems.
Its lead candidates have shown strong results in greenhouse trials. Svend Petersen, CEO and co-founder of Mycoverse, said: “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 investors point to the speed of development and technical depth of the team as key factors behind the round. Christian Kannemeier, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF, said: “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. The rapid development of their potato blight candidates, achieved in just five months, demonstrates the strength and efficiency of their platform.”
Across Europe, the crop protection landscape is shifting in response to regulatory developments and rising demand for lower-impact agricultural inputs. At the same time, growers continue to face disease pressures and the risk of resistance to existing treatments, increasing the need for new solutions that are both effective and economically viable.
Kim Wagenaar, Investment Director at Future Food Fund, said: “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. 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.”
PINC, which focuses on accelerating the transition away from chemical inputs in food value chains, also participated in the round. Rosemari Herrero, Senior Investment Manager at PINC, said: “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.”
The funding will enable Mycoverse to expand its field trial programme over the next two growing seasons. These trials are intended to validate performance under commercial farming conditions and support regulatory approval pathways.
While potato late blight is the company’s first target, Mycoverse plans to apply its platform to other crops in the future, including grapevines. The broader aim is to build a portfolio of biological crop protection products that respond to tightening pesticide regulations and the need for lower-impact agricultural systems.
Biological crop protection has gained traction in recent years as regulators and agribusinesses seek alternatives to conventional chemistry. Advances in strain discovery, fermentation and formulation are enabling new approaches that can integrate into established crop management practices.
With fresh capital secured, Mycoverse will focus on scaling its development activities and progressing toward commercial readiness. The company positions its technology as a route to maintaining crop resilience while reducing reliance on chemical inputs in European agriculture.
