Participated · Series B · Oct 2021

Air Up sells a reusable bottle plus replaceable scent cartridges that trick users’ sense of taste by delivering aroma profiles that evoke flavors while the consumer drinks plain water. The product launched in 2019 and has sold to more than 1 million customers to date. Sales began online (driven by PR and influencers) and have expanded to online marketplaces and offline retail, and the company has moved beyond German‑speaking markets into the UK. Air Up reports a revenue run rate of more than €100 million, and Five Seasons Capital has highlighted potential environmental and public‑health impacts (estimated savings of up to 85 million single‑use plastic bottles and more than 2.465 tons of sugar). The founding team grew from the original two co‑founders to a five‑person team and has since appointed an experienced managing director. The company plans to enter the U.S. market and shift some manufacturing closer to home (Turkey) to create a more sustainable supply chain.

Led · Series A · Jun 2021

Lykon develops personalised nutrition programmes and products based on certified blood and DNA tests, complemented by motivational psychology concepts and artificial intelligence. The company has helped more than 150,000 people achieve health goals and has increasingly focused on sustainable weight management. Lykon aims to help 1 million people reach a healthy weight and avoid consequential conditions such as type 2 diabetes and depression. Founded in 2018 and based in Berlin, the startup combines laboratory diagnostics for the home with medical research to enable lasting behavioural change. With recent financing, Lykon plans to launch new products and services to scale its weight-management offering across Europe. Investor support is presented as validation of the company’s vision and proof of concept for the Lykon brand. Lykon develops personalised nutrition concepts and dietary supplements using laboratory-diagnostic blood and DNA analysis, artificial intelligence and medical research. Customers collect a few drops of blood or saliva at home, send samples by post, and receive lab analysis with certified nutritional recommendations on an individual Lykon profile. The company has introduced a new brand identity to boost awareness of personalised, science-based nutrition. Lykon plans to use recently raised capital to increase the user-friendliness of its products and to expand into new markets and target groups. The startup combines at-home testing, lab diagnostics and AI to deliver tailored nutrition and action recommendations. Founded in 2018 and based in Berlin, the company positions itself as an ecosystem for personalised nutrition. Lykon provides personalized nutrition concepts using certified blood and DNA tests, supported by machine learning and artificial intelligence to generate customized nutritional recommendations, recipes, products and health guidance. Founded in 2015 and based in Berlin, the company is described as Germany’s market leader for personalized nutrition concepts. Earlier this year Lykon acquired Gaia Nutrition to strengthen its data-driven personalization capabilities. The startup has recently expanded its customer base amid increased consumer interest in health and self-testing. Lykon raised €6.4 million in a Pre‑Series A round and intends to use the funds to improve the customer journey and further develop its technology. Management is targeting a Series A financing round for end‑2021/early‑2022 and aims to scale its impact on consumer health.