Nutrition from Water (NXW) has secured investment to scale the production of protein and fiber from microalgae grown in water, with applications across products from sports nutrition to dairy and other everyday food categories.
The company, founded in New Zealand and based in Portugal, received the investment from Savia Ventures and SOSV to support its fermentation-based production process, which it describes as controlled, low-emission, and not dependent on agricultural land. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“This investment is not a milestone. It is a starting point. We are building a supply chain that global food manufacturers can rely on today,” CEO Federico Duarte told Portugal Startup News.
The funding comes alongside a manufacturing partnership with Jiangsu Jiangshan Pharmaceutical (JSPC), giving NXW access to existing fermentation infrastructure capable of producing thousands of tonnes within three years.
NXW’s flagship ingredient, Marine Whey, is a complete protein designed to be blended into everyday food products, including sports nutrition, bakery, dairy, and ready-to-drink beverages, without altering flavor, color, or texture. The company sells exclusively to food manufacturers, not to consumers.
According to NXW, many microalgae companies struggle to bridge the gap between developing “a compelling ingredient and one that food manufacturers will actually buy.” The company says it has spent the past four years working to address that challenge.
Much of the technical groundwork was carried out in the Algarve, in partnership with the University of Algarve and GreenCoLab, where NXW refined its microalgae-based protein to meet food manufacturing standards for neutral sensory profile, consistent supply, and competitive cost.
NXW is now targeting Latin America, where Savia Ventures is expected to act as a strategic partner. The company sees the region as a market where complementary nutrition at affordable cost is “not a niche, but a necessity.”
“Savia gives us more than capital. It gives us a presence in markets where the need for affordable nutrition is most acute and where we intend to move fast,” said Alex Worker, founder and president.
From here, NXW said its priority is to supply food manufacturers at the volumes and price points required for mass-market products.
Featured image: Federico Duarte, CEO of NXW (Photo courtesy of NXW)
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