From fast fungi to pest-repelling microbes: Belgian VC unveils new crop of biotech startups

Twice a year, Biotope runs a three-week “basecamp” with 10 early-stage teams. Founders stress-test their science, IP, and business models under investor scrutiny. Only three make the cut.

The latest early-stage ventures to enter the accelerator are betting that fungi, microbes, and molecular chemistry can help overhaul how we grow food and protect crops.

Typcal (Brazil) is using proprietary fungi strains to grow mycoprotein via biomass fermentation faster than competitors. BugBiome (UK) has identified naturally-occuring microbes that safely deter pests, but not beneficial insects like bees. And lastly, Ghent-based B-COS is developing bio-molecules that switch on plants’ natural defences, with the aim of replacing chemical pesticides.

“Each of these startups has the potential to reshape their entire field, and we’re proud to help them lay the right foundations,” says Annick Verween, head of Biotope.

Two of the three ventures, BugBiome and B-COS, are led by women – still a rarity in deep tech and biotech, where the majority of founding teams remain male-only.

€250K each in funding

The winners have received €250,000 in direct funding, €100,000 worth of tailored support, and an 18-month program designed to get them seed-round ready – a crucial step in biotech, where timelines are long, regulation is heavy, and early investors are wary of risk.

Biotope itself launched in 2022 as a spin-off of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), with backing from the EU, the Flemish government, and the city of Ghent.

Earlier this year it secured €5m toward a €9m second fund, giving it the firepower to support up to 30 startups. That fund was backed by BNP Paribas Fortis, Agri Investment Fund, SFPIM Relaunch, Anacura, Edaphon, and The Nest.

The model is founder-first: de-risk the science, strengthen IP and regulatory pathways, and turn researchers into entrepreneurs.

Turning science into startups

Since launch, Biotope has supported 16 companies across seven countries, with alumni raising nearly €30m in follow-on financing. Four – including AmphiStar and B’ZEOS – have already closed seed rounds.

And timing may be in these startups' favour. The European Commission’s Biotech Act, due in 2026, will aim to speed biotech’s path from lab to market. Meanwhile, Belgium is already carving out a reputation as Europe’s biotech hotspot, with some in the industry calling it the “Silicon Valley of biotech.”

For Typcal, BugBiome, and B-COS, the next 18 months will be make-or-break. For Belgium's biotech sene, it’s another chance to prove it can turn research into strong biotech businesses.