2.6 million euros for Würzburg start-up
05/12/2026Identifying dangerous germs in food: The start-up NanoStruct is developing sensor chips for such processes. The spin-off from the University of Würzburg has now received funding totalling 2.6 million euros.
NanoStruct is a start-up at the interface between biotechnology and nanotechnology based in Würzburg and offers sensor chips for the rapid identification of harmful bacteria in food. Launched in 2021 as a spin-off by Dr Henriette Maaß, Enno Schatz and Kai Leibfried from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), NanoStruct is now ready to bring its system to the food market.
To this end, the start-up has completed a seed financing round totalling 2.6 million euros. The round is led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Bayern Kapital and the AUXXO Female Catalyst Fund. The financing builds on previous funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the European Union.
Molecular fingerprinting instead of days of waiting
It currently takes several days to detect dangerous bacteria in food - far too long to ensure that dangerous germs do not end up in consumers' hands. At the same time, regulatory requirements are increasing with the aim of improving consumer protection. As a result, the demand for accelerated and automated analysis from food manufacturers and analytical laboratories is high.
NanoStruct has developed a process that shortens detection to just a few hours by combining an optical measurement process with nanotechnology and biotechnology as well as machine learning. For the food market, this means a complete rethink of microbial analysis. Results can be obtained on the same day, recalls avoided, food waste reduced and food safety increased.
Potential to simplify processes in other areas
The funding enables NanoStruct to validate its system in pilot projects in the food analysis market and to establish structured distribution. NanoStruct's technology also has the potential to accelerate and simplify processes in other areas such as veterinary and human diagnostics or bacteria monitoring in sensitive production areas.
"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," says Dr Henriette Maaß, CEO of NanoStruct.
"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. I very much look forward to working with Henriette and the entire founding team," says Dr Stephan Ruck, Investment Analyst at HTGF.
Support from the University of Würzburg's start-up counselling service
The start-up consultancy of the JMU Service Centre Research and Technology Transfer (SFT) supported the start-up team during the founding process. The SFT advised the researchers on the spin-off and supported them with funding applications.
About the High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of deep tech, industrial tech, climate tech, digital tech, life sciences and chemistry. The HTGF investment team supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. Since its foundation in 2005, HTGF has financed over 800 start-ups and realised more than 200 successful exits. HTGF has a fund volume of over two billion euros.
About Bayern Kapital
Bayern Kapital is one of the most experienced and financially strongest venture capital investors in the DACH region. With around 1.3 billion euros in assets under management, over 120 active portfolio companies and investments of up to 50 million euros per company, Bayern Kapital is one of the few investors in the market that provides financing from pre-seed to global growth and scale-up rounds from a single source. As a public venture capital investor, Bayern Kapital invests in a consortium with leading national and international venture capital funds and supports tech start-ups and scale-ups as a reliable anchor investor over several financing rounds.
Since 1995, Bayern Kapital has financed around 390 start-ups and scale-ups with over 675 million euros of its own equity capital in areas such as deep tech, life sciences, AI, climate tech, SaaS, new space and quantum technology.
More information about Bayern Kapital
About Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund
The Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund is Germany's first gender-lens venture capital fund. Auxxo was founded with the aim of building a portfolio of the strongest female founders in Europe and thus accelerating gender parity in the venture capital and start-up scene. As a co-investment fund, Auxxo manages assets totalling 45 million euros with 40 investments to date. In addition to promoting diversity, Auxxo supports its portfolio companies with a strong network, visibility, access to follow-on investors and a special focus on the health and resilience of founders.
