We are ÄIO and our mission is to change the way we produce, consume and perceive foods and other products. On the oil drop level. By recognising the full worth of microbial oils, we deliver tailored solutions for industries such as food, feed and cosmetics. We plan to be the largest biotech company in the Baltics, but baby steps... We were officially founded in January 2022. How do we plan to do it? Simple: we use locally available by-products to "brew" fats & oils. By-products such as forestry residues and food industry side streams. Our products are better. Rich in proteins, omega-3s, antioxidants, and pigments - all that by recycling and converting low-value biomass into high-value oil ingredients. Without any dependence on season or climate, or even without using precious arable land. Non-animal, plant-based. Sustainable alternative fats & oils. Point made.
Location: Estonia
Employees: 51-200
Total raised: $9.07M
Founded date: 2022
Investors 1
| Date | Name | Website |
| - | Nordic Foo... | nft.vc |
Funding Rounds 3
| Date | Series | Amount | Investors |
| 23.07.2025 | Grant | $1.17M | - |
| 30.09.2024 | - | $6.8M | - |
| 10.02.2023 | Seed | $1.1M | - |
Mentions in press and media 23
| Date | Title | Description |
| 18.12.2025 | ÄIO to Develop Novel Fat Ingredient from Industrial Side-Streams Under €2.3M Project | Estonian biotechnology firm ÄIO has secured €1.2 million in public funding from Enterprise Estonia to scale production of its yeast-based Flavoured Fat ingredient through a new three-year project titled FERM-OIL. The total project budget is... |
| 16.09.2025 | Estonia’s ÄIO Produces First Tonne of Its Yeast-Based Alternative to Traditional Oils | Estonian biotech company ÄIO has completed the first full-scale production run of its yeast-based encapsulated oil product, reaching a volume of one tonne. This represents a 300-fold increase from the company’s laboratory capabilities. ÄIO ... |
| 16.09.2025 | Biotechnology company ÄIO successfully produces first tonne of its yeast-based alternative to traditional oils for cosmetics and food applications | Biotechnology company ÄIO successfully produces first tonne of its yeast-based alternative to traditional oils for cosmetics and food applications Tue, Sep 16, 2025 17:00 CET Report this content The 1 tonne production milestone marks a sign... |
| 24.07.2025 | Estonian BioTech Disrupts Cosmetics: ÄIO Secures €1M for Sustainable Oils | Estonian BioTech innovator ÄIO secured €1 million. This funding accelerates development of sustainable, fermentation-derived oils. These new alternatives replace traditional, often harmful, fats in cosmetics and chemicals. Their process sig... |
| 23.07.2025 | ÄIO Awarded €1M for Development of Yeast-Based Oils for Cosmetics Applications | Estonian biotechnology firm ÄIO has secured €1 million in government-backed funding to develop and scale up microbial fermentation-based oils for use in cosmetics and chemical applications. The funding was awarded through Estonia’s Applied ... |
| 22.07.2025 | Biotechnology company ÄIO secures €1M to develop greener alternatives to unethical and polluting oils in cosmetics products | Biotechnology company ÄIO secures €1M to develop greener alternatives to unethical and polluting oils in cosmetics products Tue, Jul 22, 2025 10:00 CET Report this content Tightening legislation and increasing consumer awareness of health, ... |
| 22.07.2025 | Estonian BioTech developer ÄIO secures €1 million to develop greener alternatives in cosmetics products | ÄIO, a Tallinn-based BioTech company developing sustainable, non-animal fats and non-vegetable oils through innovative fermentation processes, has secured €1 million in funding to accelerate development of safer and more ecological alternat... |
| 22.07.2025 | ÄIO Raises €1M in Funding | ÄIO, a Tallinn, Estonia-based biotechnology company developing sustainable, non-animal fats and non-vegetable oils through fermentation processes, raised €1M in funding. Backers were not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to ac... |
| 14.07.2025 | Guest Post: Biomass vs. Precision Fermentation – Understanding the Technologies Reshaping Food Innovation | Nemailla Bonturi is a biotech entrepreneur and executive with over a decade of experience in applied microbiology, fermentation, and circular bioeconomy. As the co-founder and CEO of ÄIO, she is driving the company’s mission to transform ag... |
| 15.05.2025 | Deep roots, global reach: Estonia’s tech ecosystem | Estonia's tech ecosystem continues to demonstrate resilience and maturity amid global economic uncertainty. According to Startup Estonia, in the first quarter of 2025, startups generated over €400 million in turnover, contributed €63 millio... |
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