Mycoverse, a Denmark-based agri-tech startup developing fungal-based biological crop protection, announced that it has raised €2.4 million in pre-seed equity funding to accelerate development of solutions targeting potato late blight, one of Europe’s most destructive crop diseases.
The round was co-led by Future Food Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from PINC, the venture arm of Paulig. The company previously received €1.9 million in support from the BioInnovation Institute, bringing total funding raised to €4.3 million.
Founded as a spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Mycoverse is building a platform that combines AI-driven discovery with fungal production technology to develop bioactive solutions designed to replace chemical pesticides. The company’s approach identifies promising fungal strains and develops scalable biological crop protection products that can integrate into existing farming systems.
The funding will support two years of field trials toward commercial validation of the company’s first product candidates targeting potato late blight. Lead candidates have already demonstrated strong performance in greenhouse trials, according to the company.
Potato late blight represents an estimated $1.9 billion global market opportunity, highlighting demand for new crop protection solutions as regulatory pressure increases to reduce chemical pesticide use and farmers face growing resistance to existing products.
Beyond potatoes, Mycoverse plans to expand its platform to additional crops including grapevines as biological crop protection gains adoption across European agriculture.
KEY QUOTES:
“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.”
Svend Petersen — CEO And Co-Founder, Mycoverse
“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.”
Christian Kannemeier — Senior Investment Manager, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
“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.”
Kim Wagenaar — Investment Director, Future Food Fund
“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.”
Rosemari Herrero — Senior Investment Manager, PINC
