PINC invests in Scindo to accelerate sustainable bio-based ingredients

PINC, the venture arm of international F&B company Paulig, has joined a £4 million (US$5.3 million) investment round, co-led by Kadmos Capital and Clay Capital, in Scindo, a UK-based start-up developing next-generation enzymes using an AI platform.

The investment supports Scindo’s bio-based ingredients and sustainable chemistry, said to be a strategic fit with Paulig’s strategy to drive innovation in food and flavor while reducing environmental impact.

Engineering enzymes

Scindo’s full-stack platform engineers enzymes, which are naturally occurring proteins found in plants and microbes. Enzymes can transform renewable feedstocks into high-value, bio-based ingredients. 

By combining advanced AI models with proprietary, experimentally validated reaction data, the platform accelerates enzyme discovery and optimization, enabling complex reactions to be done more efficiently and sustainably. 

According to Scindo, this innovation supports consistent, scalable production of natural flavors.

The investment aligns with Paulig’s commitment to building a tastier, healthier, and more sustainable planet. PINC seeks out start-ups developing innovative solutions that can lower emissions and improve food systems.

“Traditional manufacturing of ingredients like flavors and fragrances still relies heavily on petroleum derivatives. However, alongside consumer expectations and policy changes, companies like Paulig recognize their responsibility to drive the shift toward clean and sustainable alternatives,” says Rosemari Herrero, senior investment manager at PINC. 

“Scindo’s enzyme platform offers a cost-effective way to produce bio-based ingredients, thereby driving the transition toward more sustainable and affordable products.”

Pioneering solutions

According to PINC, this technology is already attracting strong industry interest. The company has established partnerships with key chemical manufacturers and has initiated pilot scaling to bring the first products to market. This momentum underscores the rising demand for bio-based solutions that can deliver both performance and sustainability at scale.

Founded in 2020, Scindo is entering its next phase of growth. With the new funding, the company will expand its enzyme discovery engine, scale wet-lab capabilities, and strengthen its team. Recent hires include research scientists from top pharma companies and the University of Oxford, UK, bolstering expertise in machine learning, enzyme engineering, process scaling, and commercialization. 

These additions position Scindo to scale rapidly and deliver sustainable, high-value solutions to its global industry partners.

“The backing of such a strong consortium of investors enables us to accelerate the scale-up of our enzyme platform and start producing sustainable, high-value products,” adds Gustaf Hemberg, co-founder and CEO of Scindo. “With PINC and Paulig as strategic partners, we gain not only capital but also expertise in food, flavor, and sustainability, helping us bring solutions to market faster.”

Earlier this year, PINC led a US$2.9 million (€2.73 million) investment round in Swedish agri-tech company BlueRedGold. The funding is poised to accelerate the development of the world’s first scalable indoor saffron cultivation system, powered by AI.