The livestock feed additives produced by PerformaNat optimize the intake of nutrients from animal feed. PerformaNat's goal is to improve the utilization of animal feed protein, prevent various illnesses through improved nutrition, and curb emissions of gases harmful to the environment. Particular focus has been placed on the use of plant-based agents that support the natural metabolic process and strengthen the animals' immune systems.

The underlying technology was developed over the course of several years of research in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Freie Universität Berlin, and it was then patented and licensed to PerformaNat GmbH. On the way to market maturity, the founders Dr. Julia Rosendahl, Hannah Braun, and Katharina Schrapers were supported by Profund Innovation, the service facility in Freie Universität's Division of Research that promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology. With funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy from the EXIST Research Transfer program, the team first developed a product for dairy cows, which has already been licensed to an international sales partner in the veterinary pharmaceuticals industry and is available on the market. The next step is to integrate this technology into further fields of application.

High-Tech Gründerfonds, Bamac GmbH, and the business angel Markus Plümer are investing a seven-figure amount into the young company. The investment will help drive forward the development of new products.

Dr. Frank Hensel, Investment Manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds, says, “PerformaNat’s founders have been able to turn the scientific findings of a PhD thesis into a product and take them to market launch with the help of funding. The investment by HTGF, Bamac, and Mr Plümer will now give PerformaNat the opportunity to grow and expand its their product portfolio.” Business angel Markus Plümer adds, “Based on proprietary R&D, PerformaNat’s business model is extremely flexible and scalable, allowing product out-licensing to major veterinary and animal-feed firms. At the same time, the physical operating principle used in the PerformaNat process, which is based on plant-based materials, has the potential to address three megatrends in livestock farming in a remarkable way: effective and economical food production with a sustainable improvement in animal health and lower ammoniac emissions.”

About PerformaNat GmbH

PerformaNat GmbH was founded in 2015 as a spin-off of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Freie Universität Berlin. The first product – an animal-feed additive for use with dairy cows – was developed with the help of the EXIST Transfer of Research Grant Program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and it has already been successfully out-licensed. Further products are being developed.