Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
The nu company is a technology company.
The nu company develops organic, plant-based snack alternatives, prioritizing health and environmental sustainability. Its core product, nucao, is a reduced-sugar chocolate bar; offerings expand to nut and protein bars, plus protein shakes. All items are packaged plastic-free, and the company plants a tree for every sale, ensuring a climate-positive impact.
Founded in 2016 by engineering students Christian Fenner, Thomas Stoffels, and Mathias Tholey, The nu company stemmed from a shared ambition for healthier, sustainable food. Inspired by a homemade chocolate and hemp seed bar, the trio developed their superfood snack. They initially crafted nucao bars by hand in a Dresden dorm, supplying local organic shops.
The company serves consumers seeking nutritious, ethically produced snacks aligned with environmental values. The nu company views consumption as a powerful force for global change, aiming for every purchase to contribute to a healthier, greener world. It champions ecological food production, disrupting conventional food industry practices.
The nu company has raised $17.0M across 1 funding round.
The nu company has raised $17.0M in total across 1 funding round.
The nu company is a German sustainable food startup founded in 2016, specializing in vegan, organic, and climate-positive chocolate and snacks under brands like nucao and numove.[3][4][5] It produces healthy, plastic-free products made with fair trade cocoa, targeting consumers seeking ethical food options, and solves environmental and health issues in the snack industry by using innovative, recyclable packaging like Koehler NexPlus Advanced paper.[3][4] With $20.96M raised and headquartered in Leipzig, the company emphasizes positive planetary impact through transparent supply chains and high-speed production innovations, though its Mosaic Score recently dropped to -57 points, signaling potential financial challenges.[3][4]
The nu company was established in 2016 in Leipzig, Germany, as a food tech startup focused on revolutionizing snacks with sustainability at its core.[3][4][5] Founders, including nucao co-founder Mathias Tholey, drew from a mission to create chocolate with positive environmental impact, leading to vegan, sugar-reduced bars and organic protein products.[3][5] Early traction came from developing plastic-free packaging collaborations, such as with Koehler Paper for high-speed paper wrapping (up to 600 bars per minute), accelerating market entry and aligning with eco-conscious consumer demands.[3] This evolution from niche chocolate to broader climate-positive snacks humanizes their commitment to transparency and knowledge-sharing in sustainable production.[3][4]
The nu company rides the sustainable food tech trend, capitalizing on consumer shifts toward vegan, low-sugar, and plastic-free products amid climate concerns and EU green regulations.[3][4][5] Timing aligns with 2025's emphasis on circular packaging innovations, as seen in partnerships accelerating eco-friendly chocolate wrapping in Germany.[3] Market forces like rising demand for alternative proteins and functional foods (2,908 startups in the space) favor its positioning, influencing the ecosystem by pioneering paper-based solutions that reduce plastic waste and inspire brand-printer collaborations.[3][5] In Europe's startup scene, it contributes to food & beverage disruption, though funding challenges highlight risks in scaling amid economic pressures.[3][4]
The nu company could expand nucao and numove lines through more packaging tech partnerships, targeting EU growth in sustainable snacking amid 2025's green mandates.[3][5] Trends like AI-driven supply chains and premium eco-snacks will shape its path, potentially boosting revenue if Mosaic Score recovers via new funding. Its influence may evolve by setting standards for climate-positive food tech, turning early traction into broader ecosystem impact—reinforcing its opening promise of planetary good through chocolate.[3][4]
The nu company has raised $17.0M in total across 1 funding round.
The nu company's investors include Clément Helinckx, Alchemy Ventures, Clearvision Ventures, Voyager Capital, Rick Wagoner, Nico Rosberg, BackBone Ventures, DX Ventures, Five Seasons Ventures, Square One Foods.
The nu company has raised $17.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Series A in August 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2021 | $17M Series A | Clément Helinckx | Alchemy Ventures, Clearvision Ventures, Voyager Capital, Rick Wagoner, Nico Rosberg, BackBone Ventures, DX Ventures, Five Seasons Ventures, Square ONE Foods | Announced |