NanoStruct has announced the completion of a €2.6 million financing round led by HTGF High-Tech Gründerfonds, Bayern Kapital, and the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund. The German deep-tech startup is developing a rapid pathogen detection solution for the food industry that combines nanotechnology, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence to dramatically compress the time required to identify dangerous bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella.
Today’s standard detection methods for foodborne pathogens take two to three days to return results — a window that can allow contaminated products to move further along the supply chain before a safety issue is identified. NanoStruct said its technology reduces that timeline to just a few hours, enabling same-day results that can meaningfully reduce recalls, limit food waste, and elevate safety standards across the entire food production value chain. The company said the implications extend beyond consumer protection to operational efficiency for food producers and distributors managing inventory and shelf-life decisions under time pressure.
The fresh capital will support NanoStruct’s next phase of development as it looks to bring fast and precise bacterial analysis to food industry clients at scale. The company said it is actively seeking pilot projects and collaborations with partners in the food industry, laboratory environments, and adjacent sectors. The backing of HTGF, one of Europe’s most active early-stage technology investors, alongside Bayern Kapital and the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, signals broad investor confidence in both the technology and the market opportunity.
NanoStruct said the raise represents more than capital — it is a strong signal for the future of food safety innovation in Europe and beyond.
