Successful exit for Innovation Industries: Danone acquires The Akkermansia Company

● The Akkermansia Company, a microbiome pioneer spun out of UC Louvain and Wageningen University, developed a next-generation proprietary biotic strain, Akkermansia muciniphila MucT™

● The company clinically demonstrated Akkermansia’s ability to reinforce the gut barrier and reduce immune system inflammation linked to gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease

● Strategic acquisition for Danone, expanding deeper into gut health as it doubles down on science and innovation, and as consumer interest in healthy products continues to rise

● Successful exit underscoring the opportunity for European biotech companies to scale and bringing ground-breaking innovation to the food industry

Amsterdam, 25 June 2025 – Innovation Industries, one of Europe’s leading deeptech investors, announces a successful exit of The Akkermansia Company, which has been acquired by Danone. Founded in 2016, the Akkermansia Company is based on joint research conducted at two European universities, UC Louvain and Wageningen University. Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists at The Akkermansia Company have developed a naturally occurring next-generation biotic strain, Akkermansia muciniphila MucT™, and clinically demonstrated its ability to reinforce the gut barrier and reduce immune system inflammation linked to gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.The strategic acquisition by Danone will amplify The Akkermansia Company’s impact on global health and nutrition. Expanding deeper into gut health is a key facet of Danone’s strategy, as it doubles down on science and innovation,and as consumer interest in healthy products continues to rise.

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Tackling global public health challenges at scale

“This is a defining moment for The Akkermansia Company. From the very beginning, our mission has been to pioneer a new category of microbiome-based health solutions, grounded in world-class science and designed to make a tangible difference in people’s lives”, said Michael Oredsson, CEO of The Akkermansia Company. “By becoming part of a highly respected global leader in the food industry, that ambition now takes a significant step forward. This transition will allow us to scale our approach worldwide and amplify our impact on public health.”

“Our work on Akkermansia muciniphila began over a decade ago, driven by a scientific hypothesis about its role in supporting metabolic and gut health. Since then, we have translated this foundational research into a clinically validated,consumer-ready product. Innovation Industries played a key role in our journey,providing long-term support from very early on”, said CTO Professor Willem M. de Vos, who discovered Akkermansia and co-founded The Akkermansia Company. “As we enter this next phase, we will focus on expanding product development, and accelerating international market access to realize the full potential of Akkermansia in improving human health.”

This exit marks another milestone in Innovation Industries’ mission to back deeptech pioneers who solve the fundamental challenges of our time—with The Akkermansia Company addressing urgent public health needs through microbiome innovation.

“Congratulations to The Akkermansia Company on this remarkable milestone. Right from the start we have been impressed by their groundbreaking science and vision”, said Caaj Greebe, Partner at Innovation Industries. “This successful exit marks a powerful new chapter, amplifying the company’s impact at scale. As long-term supporters, we’re incredibly proud to have accompanied this bold journey from lab bench to global market.”

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From science to global impact

Rooted in breakthrough research at UC Louvain and Wageningen University, The Akkermansia Company has pioneered the development of a biotic product based on Akkermansia muciniphila,a naturally-occurring gut bacterium linked to gut health. Its next-generation,proprietary and clinically demonstrated Akkermansia muciniphila MucT™ strain positioned the company as a category creator in the fast-evolving microbiome space—addressing major societal challenges such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Since its inception The Akkermansia Company has translated academic excellence into commercial success, developing a robust portfolio of patents and achieving the world’s first regulatory approval for pasteurized Akkermanisa muciniphila as a novel food ingredient (EFSA, 2021). Its science-backed products are recognized as a category-defining innovation in the microbiome sector.

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Long-Term Partnership and Conviction

Innovation Industries first invested in The Akkermansia Company in 2018, together with other partners including Seventure Partners, VIVES Fund, SRIW, WE and Venturing Tech and has supported the company through multiple growth stages — providing capital, network access, scientific and industry expertise, and strategic guidance. This exit further affirms the fund’s high-conviction to building European champions.

About Innovation Industries

Innovation Industries is a leading European deeptech venture capital firm, investing in frontier technologies that address the fundamental challenges of our time. With €1 billion in capital under management, Innovation Industries provides capital, hands-on strategic support,and deep industry expertise to scale transformative companies across sectors such as health, climate, industrial tech and agrifood.

For more information visit: https://www.innovationindustries.com

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