KÄÄPÄ Biotech, a biotechnology company specializing in functional mushrooms, announced the closing of a €9 million investment, marking a major milestone in its growth plans.

The funding round was led by PeakBridge, a global agricultural and food tech fund manager and member of the Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity partnership, with Zintinus, a food tech venture capital fund.

The investment will accelerate the company’s goal of bringing NordRelease functional mushroom ingredients to the forefront of the global health and wellness market, by increasing production capacity, expanding vertical integration, scaling operations, and strengthening the position of its ingredient portfolio.

“The functional mushroom market continues to expand rapidly, with the sector fueled by increasing customer demand for high-quality, trustworthy, and science-backed functional mushroom products. We are honored that more than 180 companies across over 20 markets trust us as their preferred partner,” said Eric Puro, CEO and co-founder of KÄÄPÄ Biotech. “This strategic investment from both PeakBridge and Zintinus represents a strong vote of confidence in our vision, technology, and team. We are overjoyed by the strengthening relationship with PeakBridge, who invested in us earlier this year. In addition to the strategic partnership and funding, PeakBridge’s tailored value-add programs for portfolio companies are a cornerstone of their partnership approach, guided by a team with deep food industry expertise. We are equally grateful for the valuable funding, strategic connections, and industry expertise that Zintinus contributes to our ongoing growth. This investment marks a major milestone as we continue scaling our operations to meet global demand while leading innovation in mushroom biotech.”

” KÄÄPÄ Biotech exemplifies what we look for in this space: vertical integration that addressed real supply chain vulnerabilities, rigorous bioactive standardization, and a European base that cuts dependence on Asia’s concentrated production,” said Gali Artzi, PhD, partner and CTO at PeakBridge. “Functional mushrooms represent more than a wellness trend, they’re a convergence of centuries of traditional use, growing clinical evidence, and modern extraction science that delivers measurable health benefits. KÄÄPÄ is a true sector leader and we’re thrilled to expand our support in this next chapter.”

“We are pleased to support KÄÄPÄ Biotech at a pivotal moment for the functional mushroom industry, which is projected to grow rapidly as global demand for science-backed, high-quality functional foods and beverages continues to rise,” said Christian Neuss, partner at Zintinus. “Through its proprietary NordRelease extraction process, clinically validated functional mushroom ingredients, and scalable indoor cultivation, KÄÄPÄ Biotech is defining the future of this market, and continues to lead its evolution. Their commitment to transparent production and vertical integration aligns closely with Zintinus’ mission to support transformative food technologies. This strategic partnership enables us to accelerate their next phase of growth and create long-term value for consumers, the environment, and investors.”

KÄÄPÄ Biotech opened a new mushroom cultivation facility in Paimio, Finland, in September 2024, increasing production capacity and R&D capabilities. In June, the company opened another facility in Salo, Finland, further strengthening its capacity to meet demand for Nordic-origin premium functional mushroom ingredients.