The Finnish food-tech company, established in 2023, specializes in healthy and functional fat alternatives. Recently, it has introduced what it terms a ‘breakthrough’ solution to conventional fats such as butter, palm oil, and coconut oil.
At the heart of Perfat Technologies lies its proprietary oleogel technology, which converts liquid vegetable oils into solid fats that exhibit the same functionality as saturated fats. By leveraging the principles of material physics in food science, this innovative company claims to have created the ‘world’s first fibre-reinforced gelled vegetable oil’.
Addressing Unhealthy Fats
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should restrict total fat intake to 30% or less of their daily energy consumption.
Limiting fat intake to below this threshold can prevent unhealthy weight gain, as noted by the WHO. Additionally, reducing saturated fats to under 10% and trans fats to less than 1% of total energy intake can mitigate the risks of noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Consumers are encouraged to replace these unhealthy options with unsaturated fats.
The alternative developed by Perfat allows manufacturers to substitute unhealthy fats in various food applications without sacrificing taste or performance. This innovative product boasts 80% less fat and up to 30% fewer calories, while also enriching the food with added fibers.
Scaling Up
As demand surges for healthier, cleaner, and more eco-friendly products, the Business Research Company projects the market for sustainable and functional ingredients to reach $129 billion by 2025. Perfat is strategically positioning itself as a next-generation alternative to traditional fats, aligning with current market trends.
The company has successfully raised €2.5 million, which will be allocated towards scaling up production, expanding its team, and launching its lipid-based health solutions.
This funding round was co-led by Newtree Impact and Beyond Impact, with continued participation from Nordic Science Investments, University of Helsinki Funds, and Big Idea Ventures.
“This financing marks a major milestone in our journey. We aim to grow rapidly, transform the food industry, and create a healthier future for millions of consumers worldwide. For us, substituting traditional solid fats is not just about innovation—it’s about caring for people’s health, helping manufacturers adopt sustainable solutions, and reshaping the way the world thinks about fats,” stated Jyrki Lee-Korhonen, CEO of Perfat Technologies.
Sagar Tandon, a partner at investor Beyond Impact, expressed being “highly impressed by Perfat’s ability to produce tailor-made solid functional fats.”
“Their platform offers a kinder, cleaner, and healthier alternative to dairy and other animal-derived fats—holding the potential to redefine the role of functional fats in our diets,” he continued.
Furthermore, Perfat Technologies has been recognized as one of EIT Food’s ‘Rising Food Stars.’ This program identifies the “most promising” aspiring Agrifood and FoodTech scale-ups and enhances their chances of business success.
