MicroLub, a deeptech ingredient solutions company spun out from the University of Leeds, has raised a $10 million funding round led by Northern Gritstone. All of MicroLub’s existing investors participated in the round, including NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance, which is managed by PXN Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), and Italian deeptech investor LIFTT. The investment will support the company’s next phase of growth, including more than doubling its headcount over the next 18 months and accelerating its expansion into the US and Asian markets. It will also help convert existing customer trials into commercial agreements and further develop its proprietary ingredient technologies.
Food manufacturers are under growing pressure to improve the nutritional profile of their products. Tighter regulation and changing eating habits are driving reformulation across food categories. The widespread adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss medicines is accelerating this shift, with consumers increasingly seeking higher-protein, lower-calorie foods. But reducing fat, increasing protein or developing plant-based alternatives often compromises the taste, texture and mouthfeel that consumers expect, limiting repeat purchases.
MicroLub is solving this challenge through its patented protein-based ingredient technology. Rather than replacing fat with starches, gums or alternative fats, MicroLub replicates this lubrication using water, enabling manufacturers to reduce fat and calorie content by up to 75% while maintaining the sensory experience consumers demand. In many applications, the technology can also increase protein content and clean up the ingredients list, removing the need for ingredients such as emulsifiers and thickeners which consumers are increasingly rejecting.
Founded by Professor Anwesha Sarkar from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, the company has progressed from pilot production to industrial-scale manufacturing and is now working with some of the world’s largest food and ingredient companies. It continues to collaborate closely with the University of Leeds, using its world-class research facilities while also operating its own food innovation laboratory at Nexus in Leeds.
David Peters, CEO of MicroLub said: “For too long, consumers have had to choose between food products that taste great, but are unhealthy, and those that are nutritious but compromise on the eating experience. With MicroLub’s technology that’s no longer the case – they can now literally have their cake and eat it! Our technology enables manufacturers to reduce fat, increase protein and simplify ingredient lists while delivering the indulgent mouthfeel and texture consumers expect. This investment allows us to scale our technology internationally, grow our team and enable our customers to put products made with MicroLub’s technology on shelves very soon.”
Since emerging from the University of Leeds, the company has made exceptional progress, scaling its technology and attracting interest from global food manufacturers. This is exactly the kind of world-class university spinout Northern Gritstone was created to support, and we’re excited to back the team as they build what we believe can become a globally significant ingredient technology company.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The purpose of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
