Amsterdam-based Vini Mini, a startup that offers nutritional products and supplements to prevent food allergies in babies, announced that it has secured €500,000 in a seed round of funding.
This funding follows Vini Mini’s victory at the FEM-START Up Awards 2023, earning them a €100,000 investment from Antler.
With the seed funding, the company plans to broaden its distribution into new markets and strategically expand its sales and marketing teams through key hires.
Investors supporting Vini Mini
The round saw participation from Antler, Donor Impact Invest Fund, Irene Groenink of Vrederijk Investments, and business angels from The Angel Initiative.
Irene Groenink, an experienced healthcare entrepreneur, will contribute as a strategic advisor to support Vini Mini’s growth plan.
RJ Schuurs, Partner at Antler, says, “Jozien and Laurie (co-founders of Vini Mini) are a highly experienced and motivated founding team addressing one of the biggest challenges in pediatric healthcare.”
“They combine commercial experience with a strong sense of purpose and they could have a positive impact on millions of lives in the Netherlands and across Europe. I am delighted to have backed them and have every confidence in their future success.”
Before this round, Vini Mini received support from APX and Rabobank.
How was Vini Mini born?
Vini Mini’s founding team comprises two seasoned Dutch female entrepreneurs, Jozien Boersma and Laurie Lancee, who bring over 15 years of experience from consumer brands like Heineken and Danone. Friends since their studies 20 years ago, they have joined forces to build Vini Mini.
Co-founder Lancee faced the reality of food allergies when her 6-month-old son suffered a severe reaction. After discovering his egg allergy, she successfully prevented peanut and nut allergies through careful early exposure.
This personal experience motivates Vini Mini’s mission to provide preventive solutions for childhood food allergies.
On a mission to prevent food allergies
Founded in 2021, Vini Mini is developing safe nutritional products for babies to introduce allergens, targeting the escalating issue of childhood food allergies with a focus on preventive child healthcare.
According to a press release by Vini Mini, in Europe, one in four children currently has a food allergy, generating an estimated €40B in direct and indirect costs. By 2050, over half the population is anticipated to develop some form of food allergy.
Research indicates that 80 per cent of these allergies can be prevented by introducing allergens to babies early and regularly. Vini Mini is dedicated to crafting accessible, nutritious, and safe products for the five million babies born annually in Europe, aiming to prevent a lifetime of food allergies.
Vini Mini has already developed Startkits, Follow-up kits, and snacks tailored to the risk profile of babies, encompassing peanuts, hazelnuts, cashew nuts, and walnuts.
Co-founder Boersma says, “Introducing allergens to a baby should become as commonplace for parents as giving supplements like vitamin D & K.”
“Our products and information should be available wherever young parents are found. And this is just the beginning; Vini Mini aims to become a leading player in preventive pediatric healthcare.”
Brief about the investors
Antler aims to empower visionary founders worldwide. It facilitates the launch of sustainable businesses that address meaningful problems and drive innovation. The firm partners with early-stage entrepreneurs, offering support from team formation to global scaling. Antler has brought over 700 startups into existence and aims to back more than 6,000 by 2030.
Berlin-based APX, backed by Axel Springer and Porsche, is an early-stage venture capital fund that has invested in over 180 startups in Europe. Offering both funding and long-term support, APX continues its mission through its successor fund, HEARTFELT.
The Donor Impact Invest Fund (DIIF) supports early-stage social and impactful enterprises, addressing funding gaps with received donations. Operating on a revolving basis in the Netherlands, DIIF reinvests donor funds into promising startups after repayment, maximising the impact of contributions and promoting sustainable growth for social ventures.
The Angel Initiative is a community of female Business Angels, where women come together to (learn to) invest in female (co)founded startups, making funding more accessible for this group.
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