Verley Secures $38 Million Series A to Commercialize High-Performance Whey Protein Ingredients through Precision Fermentation

Verley, a French nutrition-focused ingredient company developing high-performance whey proteins through precision fermentation, led by Stéphane Mac Millan and Hélène Briand, has raised an oversubscribed $38 million Series A financing round from new investors, including Alven leading the round, Blast, and the French Tech Seed fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance as part of France 2030, and historical investors Sofinnova, Sparkfood, Captech, and Founders Future. With additional non-dilutive support from Bpifrance, this funding round supports Verley’s next phase of industrial execution and market deployment.

This milestone arrives as global protein demand accelerates under converging pressures. After reaching $31.8 billion in 2025, the market is expected to post record figures again in 2026. High-protein nutrition has moved into the mainstream, driven by demographic growth, shifting dietary habits, and the rapid rise of GLP-1 treatments, taken by an estimated one in eight adults in the United States in 2025.

At the same time, conventional whey protein production faces structural supply constraints, limiting its ability to scale sustainably and meet rising demand for high-quality, digestible protein ingredients.

Closing the Protein Supply Gap

Verley develops functional beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) whey ingredients for B2B manufacturers, designed to integrate seamlessly into existing food value chains. Produced via precision fermentation, the ingredients use a fraction of the resources of conventional whey, meeting growing demand for high-protein, clean-label, and digestible products.

Marketed under the FermWhey™ range, the portfolio delivers high purity, solubility, emulsification, gelling, and optimized nutritional performance for real-world applications like protein shots and ready-to-drink beverages.

From Technological Validation to Industrial Readiness

In under four years, Verley has combined rapid execution with industrial rigor, securing key regulatory milestones, including self-affirmed GRAS status in 2024 and an FDA “No Questions” letter in 2025, validating its approach for the U.S. market.

A robust intellectual property portfolio covers both fermentation and proprietary protein functionalization technologies, designed not just to replicate dairy proteins but to enhance performance and unlock new formulation possibilities. This blend of regulatory clearance, IP strength, scalability, and commercial traction is rare at this stage in the sector.

A Series A Driven by Execution

Verley’s $38 million Series A reflects proven execution rather than promise, with demand already exceeding current production capacity, highlighting strong product-market fit in a sector where many innovations stall at pilot scale.

The funding will support U.S. market entry, commercial deployment, early customer scale-up, and increased production capacity, while continuing R&D to enhance performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Subsequent expansion will target Europe and the Middle East, strengthening the region’s role in strategic food and nutrition technologies.

A European FoodTech Company with Global Ambitions

By developing scalable protein production, Verley strengthens food sovereignty amid supply constraints and geopolitical uncertainty. The company’s approach and recent funding demonstrate Europe’s competitiveness in future food technologies, combining scientific excellence, industrial rigor, and market relevance.

Stéphane Mac Millan, CEO and co-founder of Verley, stated that the company’s mission is to meet rising global demand for high-quality nutrition while conserving natural resources. Verley aims to relieve pressure on the dairy industry and build a European champion grounded in decades of dairy expertise.

Hélène Briand, Co-founder and Chief Innovation & Commercial Officer, added that the financing enables scaling both production and the performance of Verley’s ingredients. The company’s functionalization technologies are designed to meet real industrial constraints, making precision fermentation practical and effective at scale.