Personalized-probiotics startup Floré partners with DSM to explore novel ingredients

Photo © AdobeStock.com/VectorMine

Floré by Sun Genomics, a San Diego, CA–based startup company that creates personalized probiotics based on an individual’s gut microflora profile, is now working with Royal DSM (Heerlen, The Netherlands) to research novel ingredients for gut health and wellness. The two companies were paired during the MassChallenge Switzerland Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge, which matches later-stage startups with corporations in the food industry. Royal DSM’s investment unit, DSM Venturing, is also an investor in Floré.

“Floré is a later-stage startup involved in gut health and personal nutrition, using patented whole-genome DNA sequencing and gut composition analysis to formulate personalized probiotics to an individual’s unique gut microflora,” a joint press release states. “Floré’s platform can detect more than 23,000 organisms, including bacteria, parasites, yeast, viruses, phages, and fungi. DSM backs startups in this area with a focus on personalization and precision that can transform health, nutrition, and bioscience. Together, they will collaborate on research, including DSM’s use of Floré’s algorithms to gain insight into novel ingredients. In return, DSM will help Floré source high-quality ingredients for its products and take advantage of DSM’s deep knowledge base and extensive business network.”

Pieter Wolters, managing director of DSM Venturing, added, “Investors are increasingly placing their bets on the disruptive potential of custom probiotics, and we decided that a strategic partnership with Floré would be mutually beneficial. This is where Floré has an advantage, as it’s taking the guesswork out of the most challenging step for many consumers: choosing the right probiotic.”