ÄIO

ÄIO, a pioneering deep-tech startup from Estonia, is on a mission to revolutionize the production of fats and oils with a sustainable, climate-positive approach. Founded in 2022 as a TalTech spin-off, the company employs a proprietary precision fermentation platform. By using robust yeast strains, ÄIO transforms wood and food industry side-streams into functional microbial oils. This innovative process offers sustainable alternatives to palm, coconut, and animal fats without the need for arable land or deforestation-prone agriculture.

From lab concepts to scaling up to 100,000 L production by 2025, ÄIO showcases remarkable growth. Its diverse product range—Encapsulated Oil, RedOil, and ZymaLipid Complex—finds applications in food, feed, cosmetics, and green chemistry. Co-founded by Dr. Nemailla Bonturi and Prof. Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, the company is gearing up for a seed A investment round in Q4 2026, following a €1.00M investment by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS) in July 2025.