ÄIO •

Mariane • 24. October 2025

Equipped to Scale: Inside ÄIO’s Pilot Plant where people and technology shape the future of fats

At ÄIO, we develop next-generation fats and oils using proprietary yeast fermentation, offering sustainable alternatives to palm, coconut, and animal-based fats for food, cosmetics, and household applications. By upcycling local side streams like wood residues and food processing by-products, we... Read more

Mariane • 7. October 2025

TechCrunch article: Startup Battlefield company ÄIO invented a method to make edible fat from ag waste like sawdust

Article published by Julie Bort October 7, 2025 on techcrunch.com. Äio (pronounced EYE-oh) is the Estonian god of dreams. It seems a sweetly appropriate namesake for a rising startup, called ÄIO, from that tiny Baltic country that has developed a process to turn agricultural waste like sawdust into fats for the... Read more

Mariane • 7. October 2025

ÄIO’s ingredients now have official INCI names

What Is an INCI Name and Why Does It Matter? When browsing your favourite cosmetics, you’ve probably seen ingredient names like Cocos Nucifera Oil or Olea Europaea Fruit Oil on the label. These aren’t just fancy ways of saying coconut... Read more

Mariane • 24. September 2025

Success at the HEIPowered Startup Pitch Competition. Second Place and Headed to Brussels.

We are thrilled to share that ÄIO has won 2nd place at the HEIPowered Startup Pitch Competition Final, an European event that brings together top university-linked startups in the EIT Higher Education Initiative (HEI) community. Representing ÄIO on the virtual... Read more

Mariane • 16. September 2025

Press release: Biotechnology company ÄIO successfully produces first tonne of its yeast-based alternative to traditional oils for cosmetics and food applications

Press release: Biotechnology company ÄIO successfully produces first tonne of its yeast-based alternative to traditional oils for cosmetics and food applications The 1 tonne production milestone marks a significant step in ÄIO’s journey toward commercial-scale manufacturing of its next-generation, ecologically... Read more

Mariane • 11. September 2025

When a Head of State walks through your lab door!

A Presidential Visit to ÄIO: Trust, Innovation, and the Future of Sustainable Ingredients. When the President of Estonia steps through your lab door, it’s more than a visit. It is a powerful recognition of science-driven innovation and the potential for... Read more

Mariane • 29. August 2025

ÄIO on the Road: Connecting Globally

Global challenges require global solutions and global connections. This autumn, the ÄIO team is hitting the road. From Vilnius to San Francisco, we’re stepping onto international stages, sharing our vision, pitching to investors, and forging new collaborations with partners who... Read more

Mariane • 28. August 2025

ÄIO Selected Among Top 200 Startups Worldwide to Pitch at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

ÄIO has been chosen as one of the 200 most promising startups globally to pitch at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield, a world-renowned stage that has launched over 900 companies since its inception. Selected from thousands of applicants across the globe, ÄIO... Read more

Mariane • 22. July 2025

ÄIO secures €1M public funding to develop fats and oils for the cosmetics industries!

Press release Biotechnology company ÄIO secures €1M to develop greener alternatives to unethical and polluting oils in cosmetics products Tightening legislation and increasing consumer awareness of health, environmental, and ethical concerns associated with ingredients like animal-based fats, palm and coconut... Read more

Mariane • 18. July 2025

“Mind the Gap”

Between innovation and regulation, between science and food, between policy makers and change-makers. ÄIO had the honour of helping bridge that gap in a rather fitting location: the UK Parliament for the first-ever Parliamentary Food Fermentation Fair, hosted by The... Read more

Mariane • 14. July 2025

From Oats to Excellence: ÄIO Team Visits YOOK Production

At ÄIO, innovation thrives when inspired by others. Last week, our team had the opportunity to visit YOOK Production AS, Estonia’s first oat drink factory located in Türi, to explore how high-quality plant-based products are made at scale. YOOK: A... Read more

Mariane • 8. July 2025

Scaling Innovation Together: The Power of Collaboration Between ÄIO and VTT

At ÄIO, we believe that transformative innovation does not happen when working alone, it thrives on meaningful collaboration. One of the most significant examples of this belief in action is our ongoing partnership with VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland).... Read more

Mariane • 25. June 2025

Inside ÄIO: What We Learned from Our 3-Day Pilot Plant Workshop

At ÄIO, innovation doesn’t end with a great idea in the lab, it continues through scale-up, execution, and collaboration. That’s why we recently brought our team together for a three-day internal workshop at our Pilot Plant, focused on building alignment,... Read more

Mariane • 13. June 2025

From Vision to Reality: ÄIO Featured in Innovations of the World

We are proud to share that ÄIO has been featured in the globally recognized book series Innovations of the World, which celebrates visionary companies, outstanding entrepreneurs, and breakthrough technologies shaping the future. Our article, titled “From Vision to Reality,” tells... Read more

Mariane • 10. June 2025

Join ÄIO team! Four amazing job opportunities!

At ÄIO, we are pioneering a sustainable future through precision fermentation and circular innovation. By transforming industrial side-streams into high-value fats and oils. Now, as we grow fast, we’re inviting four new professionals to join us in Estonia and... Read more

Mariane • 4. June 2025

BIONEER in Tallinn: How Europe’s Bioeconomy is Taking Shape, One Collaboration at a Time

ÄIO hosted the BIONEER project consortium meeting in Tallinn, a key milestone as we pass the one-year mark of this ambitious, four-year journey. BIONEER, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), is driving forward a new generation... Read more

Mariane • 3. June 2025

“We want to stay in Europe. We need your help to scale up in Europe!”

“We want to stay in Europe. We need your help to scale up in Europe!” Founders and investors in biotech and deep tech are calling for swift and coordinated action, as well as joint implementation, following the EU Startup and... Read more

Mariane • 30. May 2025

DigiFoundry Project with ÄIO and TFTAK

How can we replace palm oil, coconut fat, and animal-based lipids with something truly sustainable, functional, and scalable? At ÄIO, we believe the answer lies in precision fermentation and the right partnerships to make it real. That is the spirit... Read more

Mariane • 22. May 2025

Press Release: Novel Food tasting by ÄIO!

On May 21, 2025, ÄIO had the honor of co-hosting a landmark event that brought the future of food closer to today. As an official side event of Latitude59, the gathering was co-organized with Enterprise Estonia, Estonian Research Council, and... Read more

Mariane • 16. May 2025

Food Innovation Estonia. Tasting the Future: Novel Foods to Take the Stage at Latitude59

As part of the official side programme of Latitude59 2025, Estonia’s flagship tech and startup conference, Food Innovation Estonia is set to bring together over 120 guests from government institutions, international organizations, industry leaders, and academia. This special event will... Read more

Mariane • 9. May 2025

ÄIO Appoints Martin Mets as Chief Financial Officer to Support Strategic Growth and Global Expansion

ÄIO is proud to announce the appointment of Martin Mets as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With over a decade of high-level experience in finance, investment strategy, and product development, Martin brings the financial leadership needed to support ÄIO’s... Read more

Mariane • 30. April 2025

ÄIO is Officially Listed in the EU Transparency Register

At ÄIO, transparency, responsibility, and sustainability are core principles guiding everything we do. We are proud to share that ÄIO (äio tech OÜ) is officially listed in the EU Transparency Register, a step that reinforces our commitment to ethical innovation... Read more

Mariane • 27. April 2025

ÄIO in Bloomberg Spotlight: Building a Sustainable Future with Alternative Fats and Oils

At ÄIO, we are thrilled to share that our work has been featured in Bloomberg’s latest article (by Coco Liu), “Startups Are Turning These Unconventional Ingredients Into Butter and Oil.” The growing media attention on alternative fats is a testament... Read more

Mariane • 10. April 2025

Science Meets Policy: ÄIO co-founder Petri-Jaan Lahtvee Appointed to Estonia’s Research and Development Council

We are proud to share that Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, co-founder of ÄIO and Associate Professor of Food Technology and Bioengineering at TalTech, has been appointed to Estonia’s Research and Development Council (Teadus- ja Arendusnõukogu, TAN). Convened by Prime Minister Kristen Michal,... Read more

Mariane • 3. April 2025

ÄIO Newsletter: Insights from the Heart of Innovation

At ÄIO, we are re-imagining the way fats and oils are produced – through sustainable fermentation technology and circular economy principles. Instead of relying on environmentally damaging sources like palm oil, animal fats, or coconut oil, we are creating a... Read more

Mariane • 19. March 2025

ÄIO – Finalist at FoodTech 500!

We are beyond excited to announce that ÄIO has been selected as one of the top 200 companies in this year’s FoodTech 500 by Forward Fooding! This ranking celebrates the world’s most innovative startups and scale-ups at the intersection of... Read more

Mariane • 27. February 2025

ÄIO Hits a Game-Changing Milestone: scaling to 10,000L!

HUGE news from ÄIO! We have successfully scaled up our sustainable fat and oil production to an industrial-level batch of 10,000 liters – our biggest achievement yet! This milestone marks a pivotal moment in our journey, proving that our fermentation-based... Read more

Mariane • 24. February 2025

ÄIO Co-Founder Petri-Jaan Lahtvee Honored with White Star Class IV Medal

We are proud to announce that Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, co-founder of ÄIO and Professor at TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology, has been honored with the White Star Class IV Medal by the President of Estonia, Mr Alar Karis. This prestigious award recognizes his outstanding contributions... Read more

Mariane • 21. February 2025

ÄIO Supports Future Scientists with a Scholarship Through TalTech Development Fund

At ÄIO, we believe that innovation thrives when passionate young minds have the opportunity to grow, learn, and challenge the status quo. That’s why we are proud to introduce the ÄIO Scholarship—a €2000 grant for a Bachelor’s student at Tallinn... Read more

Mariane • 9. February 2025

ÄIO Wins the Innovation Award at the Forum on Fermented Foods!

At ÄIO, we are always pushing the boundaries of food innovation, sustainability, and biotechnology—so it’s an incredible honor to be recognized for our work! We are thrilled to share that ÄIO has won the Innovation Award at the Forum on... Read more

Mariane • 30. January 2025

ÄIO Products and European Union Deforestation Regulation Compliance

By Magdalena Koziol, ÄIO’s Head of Cosmetics Development The year 2025 marks the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Initially scheduled to take effect in December 2024, the European Commission has extended the deadline to December 2025 for... Read more

Mariane • 20. January 2025

Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Visits ÄIO: A Showcase of Sustainable Innovation

On January 14, ÄIO had the honor of hosting the Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, Piret Hartman, at our TalTech campus facility. The visit marked a significant milestone in our journey as we shared insights into how ÄIO... Read more

Mariane • 16. December 2024

Nemailla Bonturi Honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award 2024 by UNICAMP

We are delighted to share that Nemailla Bonturi, one of the brilliant minds behind ÄIO, has been recognized with the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award of 2024 by her alma mater, the Faculdade de Engenharia Química at Universidade Estadual de Campinas... Read more

Mariane • 27. November 2024

ÄIO – Food Innovation Award Winner at the Baltic Sustainability Awards 2024

We are thrilled to announce that ÄIO (äio tech OÜ) has been honored with the Food Innovation Award at the Baltic Sustainability Awards 2024! This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to creating sustainable, science-driven alternatives that transform the way industries... Read more

Mariane • 25. November 2024

Tehnopol welcomes biotech startup ÄIO

The Tehnopol Science and Business Park welcomes ÄIO, a TalTech spin-off company, who recently moved to Tehnopol campus. ÄIO uses specialised yeast to produce fats, which can replace palm or coconut fat in food products and cosmetics. The co-founders of ÄIO... Read more

Mariane • 4. October 2024

ÄIO Wins Bright Starter 2024 at Tallinn Entrepreneurship Day

We are thrilled to announce that ÄIO has been recognized with the “Bright Starter 2024” award at this year’s Tallinn Entrepreneurship Day, celebrating our innovative work in redefining food-grade fats and oils. This award highlights our unique approach of transforming... Read more

Mariane • 24. September 2024

Press Release: ÄIO Secures €6 Million for Demo Plant Construction

The biotechnology startup ÄIO has raised €6.1 million through venture capital funds Voima Ventures, 2C Ventures, SmartCap and Nordic Foodtech VC. The funds will be used to build a demo plant in Estonia to produce environmentally friendly oils and fats... Read more

Mariane • 18. September 2024

The world came to visit ÄIO

On September 17, ÄIO welcomed 40 diplomats representing their countries (in Estonia) from all over the world to our lab and kitchen facilities. During the visit, ÄIO’s Global Business Developer, Kristi Lember gave a good overview of what is the... Read more

Kristi Lember • 21. August 2024

ÄIO has joined the BIONEER project consortium

We are excited to announce that ÄIO has joined the BIONEER Project consortium as part of a groundbreaking project under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). This project is a key step toward advancing sustainable, bio-based industries in... Read more

Kristi Lember • 10. June 2024

ÄIO to host one of the first novel foods tastings in Europe at Latitude59

Estonia’s culinary scene is undergoing a quiet revolution, and it all started at Latitude59. On May 23rd, ÄIO had the privilege of participating in the country’s first-ever public novel food tasting event. As a pioneer in brewing fats, ÄIO showcased... Read more

Kristi Lember • 31. January 2024

Start Up Day, Tartu 2024: How our food affects the health of the world and why we need to change it

A glimpse of deeptech insights impacting our food systems, Start Up Day, Tartu 2024. In response to the pressing challenges of a growing global population, climate change, and resource depletion, biotechnology emerges as a crucial force in reshaping our food... Read more

Kristi Lember • 23. January 2024

Fusion of Innovation: ÄIO, Valio and VTT’s Visionary Partnership

Once again, visionary initiatives are paving the way for a sustainable future. One such stride is the innovative approach to combatting food waste through upcycling solutions and fermentation techniques. ÄIO’s collaboration with Finland’s foremost food exporter and largest milk processor,... Read more

Kristi Lember • 7. December 2023

NEXPO – Exploring the Future at the Intersection of Green Tech and Food Innovation

In a world where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a way of life, attending NEXPO – the recent greentech conference held Nov 13-17, 2023 in Tallinn was a glimpse into the future we all hope to see. Themed... Read more

Kristi Lember • 23. November 2023

Revolutionizing Our Food Systems: A Groundbreaking Partnership between TFTAK and ÄIO

In an era where sustainability is at the forefront of global concerns, innovative solutions are emerging to reshape our food systems and reduce their environmental impact. One such groundbreaking effort is the collaboration between Food And Fermentation Technology Development Center... Read more

Kristi Lember • 26. September 2023

ÄIO Pioneers Sustainable Alternatives in Oil and Fat Production

Estonian-based ÄIO secures funding to develop an innovation centre to revolutionise the food, cosmetic and chemical industries with a low carbon approach to oil and fat production. Estonian-based startup ÄIO, a pioneer in sustainable fat and oil production through fermentation,... Read more

Kristi Lember • 26. June 2023

Exploring the Future of Food: Novel Food Masterclass with Prof. Hans Verhagen

Imagine stepping into a room filled with the aroma of culinary curiosity and mission driven entrepreneurs and policymakers, where innovative food ideas and regulatory frameworks take center stage. Recently, Estonia’s agri-food innovation network, METK, in collaboration with ÄIO, achieved a... Read more

Kristi Lember • 29. May 2023

ÄIO triumphs at Latitude59 securing 150k from EstBAN and Tera VC

Latitude59, a prominent European startup and technology conference, recently witnessed an extraordinary triumph as ÄIO once again emerged victorious in the highly competitive pitching contest. Almost 400 startups from 61 countries applied for Latitude59’s this year. ÄIO secured €150k to... Read more

Kristi Lember • 18. May 2023

ÄIO and Fibenol Collaborate to Pilot Biomanufacturing of High-value Microbial Oils

Fibenol, a company that converts residues into lignin and two types of sugars, has formed a strategic partnership with emerging biotechnology startup ÄIO to create a reliable alternative to traditionally produced fats and vegetable oils. Using ÄIO’s technology, Fibenol’s wood... Read more

Kristi Lember • 1. May 2023

Swedbank visits ÄIO: A new age start-up producing healthy and reliable oil alternatives

Swedbank visited ÄIO, a start-up that is making the food industry more sustainable! At last year’s sTARTUp Day, we were recognised by Swedbank with a €10 000 prize. Take a look how producing healthy fats and oils from agricultural and... Read more

Kristi Lember • 9. March 2023

Estonian Public Broadcast ETV visited our lab and showed ÄIO’s innovation in the nature show Osoon

It was a great pleasure to welcome Osoon’s team in our lab to capture ÄIO’s everyday life and how we are bringing the lab scale innovations into real production. The topic of the show was how the current side- and... Read more

Kristi Lember • 21. February 2023

Co-Founder of ÄIO, Petri-Jaan Lahtvee named “Founder of the Year” by Cleantech Estonia

ÄIO‘s goal is to reverse-engineer our food systems through innovative biotechnology. Our Co-Founder, Petri-Jaan Lahtvee sees great potential for science in business. Just recently, he received recognition from Cleantech Estonia for his efforts in floodlighting ÄIO’s technology to create more... Read more

Kristi Lember • 9. February 2023

Estonian start-up raised 1 M€ euros to create alternative oils and fats

The company ÄIO, founded in January last year by TalTech bioengineers Petri-Jaan Lahtvee and Nemailla Bonturi, produces edible fats and oils from agricultural and wood industry side-streams using results from years of biotech research. The company’s goal is to make... Read more

Kristi Lember • 27. January 2023

Intorducing ÄIO – TalTech researchers have found a way to make food from sawdust

Sawdust makes up a large part of manufacturing waste in Estonia. So what can we do with it? Nemailla Bonturi and Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, founders of the TalTech spin-off company ÄIO, found an answer to the question. Bonturi, who comes from... Read more

Kristi Lember • 31. August 2022

Start-Up Day 2022 in Tartu was a success!

ÄIO is gaining momentum! Hell yeah! TOP 5 in the bag from Start-Up Day 2022 pitching competition powered by EstBAN (Estonian Business Awards Network). ÄIO received some valuable awards. Thank you #Swedbank and #Sorainen for much appreciated legal services! ÄIO... Read more