Helaina

Helaina

Replicates human proteins as dietary supplements

Overview

Helaina creates advanced nutritional supplements by using a platform that replicates functional human proteins so they can be taken as nutrients. Its flagship product, Effera™, is a replicated version of Human Lactoferrin, a protein found in the body that supports gut health, iron use, and immune function. The protein-based supplement is intended for health-conscious consumers who want science-backed, high-quality ingredients beyond basic nutrition. Unlike typical supplement companies that source standard nutrients, Helaina focuses on producing bioactive proteins as dietary ingredients through its proprietary technology. The company's goal is to improve overall health and vitality by making these human-like proteins available as accessible supplements.

Significant Headcount Growth

About Helaina

Simplify's Rating
Why Helaina is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Food & Agriculture

Biotechnology

Healthcare

Consumer Goods

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series B

Total Funding

$69.6M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2019

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Partnerships with Kroma Wellness, The Feed, Levelle Nutrition launched Q3 2024 products.
  • Regulatory veteran Ross Peterson hired as Director of Regulatory Affairs for safety protocols.
  • Precision Fermentation Alliance membership positions Helaina in sustainable food system narrative.

What critics are saying

  • Eclipse Ingredients captured early market share with faster consumer product commercialization.
  • FDA may reject Effera as novel food ingredient due to insufficient infant safety data.
  • Protein instability under high-heat processing in partner products risks recalls and reputation damage.

What makes Helaina unique

  • 99.7% bioidentical human lactoferrin via precision fermentation, not bovine-derived.
  • 400% better uptake than traditional alternatives with functional equivalence to maternal milk.
  • Commercial-scale production achieved May 2023; first-mover in animal-free lactoferrin ingredient.

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Funding

Total Funding

$69.6M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

4 Rounds

Series B funding is typically for startups that have proven their business model and need more funding to expand rapidly—often by entering new markets or adding more products. Investors are usually venture capital firms that specialize in later-stage investments.
Series B Funding Comparison
Above Average

Industry standards

$35M
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Linktree
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$65M
Substack
$100M
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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Childcare Support

Commuter Benefits

Leadership Development coaching through BetterUp

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

4%

2 year growth

0%
RX Japan Ltd.
Jul 22nd, 2025
Helaina Advances with Precision Fermentation Products

Startups are emerging globally to mass-produce the rare protein human lactoferrin using microbial precision fermentation. In the U.S., several consumer products using precision-fermented human lactoferrin have already launched. Companies like Australia's Eclipse Ingredients, U.S.-based Helaina, and Portugal's PFx Biotech are advancing with funding in the millions to expand the human-derived lactoferrin market.

Business Wire
Sep 26th, 2024
Helaina Raises $45 Million in Series B Funding to Accelerate the Commercialization of Human Bioactive Proteins Starting with effera™ Human Lactoferrin

Helaina, the biotechnology company transforming nutrition with human equivalent bioactive proteins, announced today it has raised $45 million in Serie

NutraIngredients
Aug 24th, 2023
NutraCast: Helaina charts new territory with breast milk proteins from precision fermentation

The biotech company is writing the safety playbook on novel bioactive proteins and to help with this, Helaina hired a nutritional sciences and regulatory affairs veteran, Ross Peterson, PhD, Helaina's new Director of Regulatory Affairs.

vegconomist
May 10th, 2023
New York’S Helaina Ready To Commercialize Animal-Free Lactoferrin

After achieving a large-scale manufacturing milestone, bioactive protein company Helaina announces that its first high-value ingredient —animal-free lactoferrin — is ready for commercialization to create consumer products focused on immune health. . Founded in 2019 in New York City, Helaina has raised more than $25 million from leading investors. Helaina is a member of the Precision Fermentation Alliance, a new trade organization formed to promote precision fermentation as a solution for a more resilient and sustainable food system. . A protein found in breast milk, lactoferrin is known for improved nutrient absorption, cognitive support, and antimicrobial defense. Helaina says it improves infant formula and functional foods, such as nutritional bars or supplements

AgFunderNews
Apr 4th, 2023
Trendwatching At Future Food-Tech, Part One: From Foodie Chatbots To Lactoferrin From Precision Fermentation

While investor sentiment may have soured on alternative proteins, the recent Future Food-Tech summit in San Francisco attracted a record number of foodtech startups showcasing everything from a chatbot steeped in the latest food trends to lactoferrin from precision fermentation. AFN caught up with a selection of exhibitors at the event, which brought together 1,700 entrepreneurs, investors, and food industry professionals from 52 countries. TasteGPT… ‘like having a personalized, concierge market research assistant that’s always available’

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