NanoStruct raises €2.6M Seed to bring same-day pathogen detection to the food industry

German-based deeptech startup NanoStruct has raised €2.6 million Seed funding. Founded by Dr Henriette Maaß, Enno Schatz, and Kai Leibfried, the company develops nanostructured sensor chips for the rapid identification of dangerous pathogens in food. Detecting dangerous bacteria in food currently takes several days, far too long to ensure that harmful pathogens don't reach consumers. At the same time, regulatory requirements are increasing to enhance consumer protection. As a result, demand for faster, automated analysis among food manufacturers and testing laboratories is high. NanoStruct has developed a process that reduces detection to just a few hours by combining optical measurement technology with nanotechnology, biotechnology, and machine learning. For the food market, this represents a complete rethinking of microbial analysis. Results can be obtained on the same day, recalls are avoided, food waste is reduced, and food safety is significantly improved. NanoStruct's technology also has the potential to accelerate and simplify processes in additional fields such as veterinary and human diagnostics, as well as bacterial monitoring in sensitive production environments. The round is led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Bayern Kapital, and the AUXXO Female Catalyst Fund. The funding builds on previous grants from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union. Dr Henriette Maaß, CEO of NanoStruct, shared: "With HTGF, Bayern Kapital, and AUXXO, we have found exactly the partners we need for this next step: experienced, well-networked, and convinced of our vision. Now we are bringing rapid bacterial analytics to the food industry." According to Dr Stephan Ruck, Investment Analyst at HTGF: "The technological breakthrough NanoStruct has achieved in sensor development is remarkable. In addition to the platform technology, we were convinced by the company's strong network in the target market and, above all, by the team."