Tampere-based ColloidTek (Collo), a Finnish tech company specialising in IoT analysers for optimising industrial liquid processes, has secured €5M in growth funding to support its global expansion.
The round was co-led by SEB Greentech Venture Capital from Sweden and Dutch deep tech investor FORWARD.one, with participation from existing investor Scale Capital from Denmark.
Mikko Huumo, Investment Manager at SEB Greentech VC, says, “It is more critical than ever for process plants to invest in technologies that help cut emissions and conserve water fast. Collo offers laboratory-level technology and precision in a cost-effective format, enabling any processing industry plant to achieve this.”
Huumo adds, “Major global industry players are already trusting Collo’s solution in process optimisation. We are very excited to support the team in their next growth phase.”
Enhancing industrial liquid process optimisation
Founded by DR. Matti Järveläinen and Teemu Yli-Hallila, Collo is developed by ColloidTek Ltd and built on novel sensor technology from Tampere University. It offers an advanced analyser designed for the food and beverage industry.
This analyser provides rapid characterisation of any liquid, delivering continuous, real-time measurements that enhance production flow control and optimisation. As a result, companies benefit from significant savings in raw materials and water while also reducing CO2 emissions and waste.
Research from Collo indicates that a mid-sized dairy plant could lose up to 8 million liters of raw milk each year due to insufficient inline process control. By using Collo’s analyser, dairies can minimise these losses, saving up to 11 million kilos of CO2 emissions and 35 million liters of clean water.
Matti Järveläinen, co-founder and CEO of Collo, says, “The global food and beverage industry is going through a significant transformation driven by climate change, rising demand for sustainable operations, and increasing environmental regulation. Major market leaders have established strategic priorities to cut emissions by half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.”
“Our solution supports the entire industry in becoming more sustainable and efficient. With the backing of the new funding, we are well-prepared to establish a strong presence in global markets.”
Collo’s sensor is compatible with any liquid and replaces the need for multiple traditional sensors. The integration of this sensor with analytics and machine learning allows Collo to provide actionable insights, making it easier for operators to manage processes without extensive sensor maintenance or data interpretation.
Collo’s technology is already in use by major industrial players such as Fonterra, Danone, E&J Gallo, Fazer, Valio, Ecolab, ABB, Siemens, and Procter & Gamble.
Co-founder Järveläinen, adds, “All savings are realised through process optimisation using existing infrastructure. Any processing company can implement Collo analysers to bring their plants to the IoT era, and make their processes sustainable, without a need for large investments in new production lines.”
While the analyser is effective in minimising product losses, it also proves beneficial for optimising other processes, including Clean-in-Place (CIP) and fermentation—key aspects of many “Food 2.0” products.
Brief about the investors
SEB Greentech Venture Capital invests in green technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. Its focus includes hardware, software, and technology solutions in renewable energy, energy storage, water and agricultural tech, circular business models, and waste management.
FORWARD.one is a VC firm specialising in deep tech hardware startups within climate tech, semiconductors, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Its team of financial professionals and entrepreneurs actively supports its portfolio companies in reaching their goals and ambitions.
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