Twogee Biotech, a Munich-based biotechnology start-up and MAxL incubator tenant specializing in tailor-made enzyme solutions for the industrial conversion of biomass into sustainable raw materials, has successfully closed a seed financing round of 2.16 million euros. Investors include High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Bayern Kapital, as well as strategic partners such as AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance and Heinz Entsorgung.
Founded in 2024 by Frank Wallrapp and Helge Jochens, each bringing more than ten years of shared industry experience in biotechnology, and supported by the BioM MAxL Incubator, the company develops customized enzyme solutions for the industrial use of biomass residual streams and is using the newly raised capital now to accelerate the development and commercialization of its technology. Initial MVPs and paid pilot projects with industrial partners as well as laboratories and bioreactors have already been implemented. The technology enables companies to convert previously low-value residual and by-product streams into sustainable second-generation raw materials, particularly 2G sugars for Bio- and SynBio applications.
This is powered by a predictive development platform that integrates enzyme screening, strain engineering, and fermentation with an industrial mindset from the outset, shortening development cycles and reducing scale-up risks. A licensing model that also enables local enzyme production at the customer site reduces costs and CO₂ emissions while supporting the creation of decentralized, circular value chains.
CEO Frank Wallrapp betont, dass viele industrielle Reststoffe bislang ungenutzte Potenziale bergen. Twogee helfe dabei, diese mit minimalem Integrationsaufwand und klarer wirtschaftlicher Perspektive zu heben. CTO und Mitgründer Helge Jochens ergänzt, dass ein zentraler Teil der Finanzierung in den Ausbau der Labore im IZB und in das wachsende Expertenteam fließe, um die Übertragbarkeit der Entwicklungen in industrielle Produktionsmaßstäbe sicherzustellen.
CEO Frank Wallrapp emphasizes that many industrial residual materials still hold untapped potential. Twogee helps to unlock this with minimal integration effort and a clear economic perspective. CTO and co‑founder Helge Jochens adds that a central part of the funding will be invested in expanding the laboratories at the IZB and in the growing expert team to ensure the transferability of developments to industrial production scales.
With the financing, Twogee Biotech positions itself as a technological development partner for companies aiming to transform their material streams into circular, low‑carbon systems. The investors confirm the potential: HTGF investment manager Tilmann Petersen sees Twogee as an enabler of the circular economy and an important driver for downstream industries. Bayern Kapital managing director Monika Steger highlights the startup’s contribution to the circular economy as well as its scalability and focus on sustainability.
The foundation for Twogee’s current success was already laid in 2024: Following their first pitch to the BioM team at the Bavarian Conference BayOConnect, Twogee impressed with their concept and was accepted into the MAxL incubator later that year. From November 2024, founders Helge, Frank, and Julia began working as Twogee Biotech GbR in the lab in Martinsried. Thanks to MAxL’s comprehensive laboratory facilities, the development of initial prototypes – including strain and enzyme cocktails – progressed rapidly. Until the now completed seed funding round, the founders financed the company entirely on their own.
"Without the excellent conditions at MAxL—from the well-equipped laboratory and intensive support to access to a strong network—this would not have been possible in this form. Through targeted event formats and close ties to the Munich ecosystem with partners such as UnternehmerTUM, BayStartup, and the Chemistry Cluster Bayern, BioM and MAxL have enabled us to build our technology, prototypes, and trust with our customers and investors—thus laying the foundation for the successful launch of Twogee Biotech GmbH," said Frank Wallrapp.