Ede-based foodtech startup Cano-ela has secured €1.6 million in funding to transform canola seeds into plant-based ingredients. Investors include Oost NL, Value Factory Ventures, and Ecosseed.
- Founded in 2020 by Juliana Romero Guzmán and Alberto Niccolai, Cano-ela is a foodtech company that transforms oil-rich seeds like canola into plant-based ingredients.
- Instead of just extracting oil, the company preserves all the valuable nutrients, such as proteins, fibers, and antioxidants.
- Cano-ela offers three main products:
- Cano-cream: A natural ingredient for creamy foods, replacing oils and artificial additives.
- Cano-soluble: A protein-rich ingredient for products like meat substitutes and protein bars, replacing soy and gluten.
- Cano-fiber: A fiber-packed ingredient that adds nutrition to food products.
- These natural ingredients can replace synthetic emulsifiers, stabilizers, and texturizers, providing food companies with clean-label and sustainable alternatives.
Details of the deal
- The investment was backed by Netherlands-based Oost NL, Ecosseed, and Value Factory Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm specializing in early-stage agrifood and climate tech startups, with an initial investment range of €200,000 to €1 million.
“Cano-ela transforms underutilized resources into sustainable ingredients, and we’re proud to support their mission," Jacco Zuijdweg, Partner and Investemnt Manager at Value Factory, commented.
- Cano-ela will use the €1.6 million funding to improve its pilot facility, boost production, and work with food producers. This will help them produce more of their plant-based ingredients and get closer to launching their products.
“This investment enables us to upgrade our pilot facility, increase production capacity, and accelerate collaborations with food producers who seek high-quality, plant-based, and sustainable ingredient solutions," claims Juliana Romero Guzmán, co-founder of Cano-ela.
