Ada Ventures announced it has co-led a €1.5 million funding round into Danish-British biotech company Alcolase, which is developing what it describes as the world’s first enzyme system designed to break down alcohol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream. The round also included participation from Delphinus Venture Capital, Antler, Manigoff Invest, and a group of angel investors.
The company was founded during the pandemic after co-founders Mikkel Precht and his team began exploring large-scale global health challenges and focused on alcohol intolerance, particularly ALDH2 deficiency. The condition affects an estimated 540 million people in East Asia and makes it difficult for the body to properly metabolize alcohol, often causing flushing, nausea, discomfort, and elevated long-term health risks.
Ada Ventures partner Check Warner said the issue extends beyond physical symptoms and has broader social implications in cultures where alcohol consumption is embedded in business dinners, networking, and family gatherings.
Alcolase has developed a liposomal encapsulation platform intended to protect enzymes from stomach acid and keep them active within the digestive system. The company believes the technology could eventually support broader applications beyond its initial consumer product. Alcolase is headquartered in Copenhagen and has established a UK therapeutic subsidiary to further develop its drug delivery platform within the UK life sciences ecosystem. Ada Ventures also confirmed that Alasdair Thong, Venture Partner at Ada Ventures, is joining the board.
Ada Ventures said the investment aligns with its healthy ageing thesis, which focuses on science-driven companies tackling overlooked health challenges. The firm noted that ALDH2 deficiency has historically received limited attention from mainstream healthcare innovation despite affecting hundreds of millions of people globally. Existing products in the market largely focus on symptom management through vitamins, antacids, or antihistamines rather than addressing the underlying biological mechanism.
The investment also marked the first Ada Ventures fund investment sourced through its Danish angel network. According to the firm, Danish angel investors Charlene Putney, Hadiyah Mujhid, and Ellen de Bever initially backed the company and later introduced it to Ada Ventures.
Ada Ventures highlighted the scientific and technical background of Alcolase’s founding team as a key factor behind the investment decision. CEO Mikkel Precht holds an MSc in Molecular Biomedicine, while co-founder Ib Christensen has a PhD in Fermentation and Purification and experience at Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Xellia Pharmaceuticals. Chief Scientific Officer Henrik Almblad leads enzyme engineering efforts and holds a PhD in Infectious Disease and Immunology alongside an MSc in Human Biology.
The company has also begun establishing early commercial traction through letters of intent and support from Asian pharmaceutical and food technology companies, including one of the world’s largest enzyme producers. Ada Ventures also cited Korean government backing and survey data showing strong consumer interest, including a significant percentage of respondents willing to pay more than €7 per dose.
Alcolase plans to initially launch in Singapore before expanding into South Korea, targeting markets where alcohol intolerance prevalence and consumer demand are particularly high. The newly established UK subsidiary will also support development of the broader enzyme delivery platform for additional therapeutic applications.
The company said the funding will be used to support in vivo studies, expand intellectual property development, build out the UK subsidiary, and advance commercialization efforts in its target launch markets.
