Key Takeaways
- • Alcolase, a Copenhagen-based biotech startup, secured €1.5 million (approximately DKK 11 million) in Series A funding led by Ada Ventures, with participation from Delphinus Venture Capital, Antler, Manigoff Invest, and a syndicate of business angels.
- • Delphinus Venture Capital, an Aarhus-based evergreen fund backed by Aarhus University Research Foundation, BESTSELLER, Norlys, and Salling Group, participated in the investment round alongside other institutional and angel investors.
- • Alcolase is developing an enzyme system designed to break down alcohol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream, targeting the alcohol intolerant population segment with a first-of-kind therapeutic solution.
- • The investment will support Alcolase's continued development and commercialization of its proprietary enzyme technology, positioning the company to advance from pre-clinical to clinical and commercial stages.
- • Legal advisory was provided by Bech-Bruun (team: Søren Kamp Nørbæk, Christian Ellegaard Gejel, and Emilie Høgh Laursen) in connection with Delphinus's investment participation.
Summary
Alcolase, a Danish biotech company headquartered in Copenhagen, has successfully closed a €1.5 million funding round to advance development of its proprietary enzyme-based therapeutic platform. The capital raise was led by Ada Ventures and included participation from Delphinus Venture Capital, Antler, Manigoff Invest, and a group of angel investors, reflecting broad investor confidence in the company's technology and market opportunity.
Delphinus Venture Capital, the investment arm based in Aarhus, brought institutional credibility to the syndicate as an evergreen venture fund with backing from prominent Danish institutions including Aarhus University Research Foundation, retail conglomerate BESTSELLER, energy cooperative Norlys, and supermarket operator Salling Group. Delphinus focuses on research-intensive, technology-driven companies across pre-seed through scale-up stages, making Alcolase's biotech innovation aligned with the fund's strategic thesis.
Alcolase's core technology addresses a specific but underserved medical need: the company is developing the first enzyme system engineered to metabolize alcohol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream, directly targeting individuals with alcohol intolerance. This mechanism-of-action approach represents a novel therapeutic avenue rather than symptomatic treatment, positioning Alcolase at the intersection of enzyme therapeutics and personalized health solutions.
The €1.5 million capital injection will fund Alcolase's continued advancement through development and commercialization phases, including preclinical validation, regulatory pathway planning, and market preparation. The diverse investor base—combining venture capital expertise (Ada Ventures, Delphinus), accelerator networks (Antler), corporate family offices (Manigoff Invest), and angel capital—suggests coordinated support extending beyond capital to include operational guidance and market access.
Legal counsel from Bech-Bruun, a prominent Danish law firm, advised Delphinus Venture Capital on transaction structuring and documentation, underscoring the institutional rigor applied to the investment process in the Nordic biotech ecosystem.
Delphinus Venture Capital, the investment arm based in Aarhus, brought institutional credibility to the syndicate as an evergreen venture fund with backing from prominent Danish institutions including Aarhus University Research Foundation, retail conglomerate BESTSELLER, energy cooperative Norlys, and supermarket operator Salling Group. Delphinus focuses on research-intensive, technology-driven companies across pre-seed through scale-up stages, making Alcolase's biotech innovation aligned with the fund's strategic thesis.
Alcolase's core technology addresses a specific but underserved medical need: the company is developing the first enzyme system engineered to metabolize alcohol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream, directly targeting individuals with alcohol intolerance. This mechanism-of-action approach represents a novel therapeutic avenue rather than symptomatic treatment, positioning Alcolase at the intersection of enzyme therapeutics and personalized health solutions.
The €1.5 million capital injection will fund Alcolase's continued advancement through development and commercialization phases, including preclinical validation, regulatory pathway planning, and market preparation. The diverse investor base—combining venture capital expertise (Ada Ventures, Delphinus), accelerator networks (Antler), corporate family offices (Manigoff Invest), and angel capital—suggests coordinated support extending beyond capital to include operational guidance and market access.
Legal counsel from Bech-Bruun, a prominent Danish law firm, advised Delphinus Venture Capital on transaction structuring and documentation, underscoring the institutional rigor applied to the investment process in the Nordic biotech ecosystem.
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