Standing Ovation, a Paris-based precision fermentation startup, raised €30 million ($34.2 million) in a Series B round. This funding includes €25 million in equity, led by the Ecotechnologies 2 fund managed by Bpifrance and Crédit Mutuel Innovation, with participation from existing investors Astanor, Bel Group, Seventure Partners, GoodStartUp, and Big Idea Ventures. New investors Danone Ventures, Angelor, and Newtree also joined. An additional €5 million in non-dilutive financing came from Bpifrance and a banking syndicate.
Since its founding in 2020 by Romain Chayot and led by CEO Yvan Chardonnens, the company has focused on Advanced Casein, a protein produced via precision fermentation of dairy side-streams. Casein comprises 80% of milk’s protein and imparts essential qualities to dairy products. Standing Ovation aims to make this a high-value product in the precision fermentation sector, which mostly targets simpler whey proteins.
The company has validated industrial-scale production with Bel Group, using acid whey as feedstock. An independent assessment showed this method reduces CO₂ emissions by 74%, land use by 99%, and water consumption by 68% compared to traditional animal casein production. The product is a “drop-in” ingredient, equivalent to conventional casein, requiring no recipe reformulation by manufacturers.
The Series B funds will support the US commercial rollout in 2026, subject to GRAS regulatory clearance. Launches in Europe and Asia are planned for the end of 2027, pending regulatory approvals. Standing Ovation adopts an asset-light manufacturing model by partnering with established manufacturers to expedite market entry. The backing from Bel Group and Danone Ventures strengthens its position in the sector.