ÄIO enters the Brazilian cosmetics market!

ÄIO is officially entering Brazil through an exclusive distribution partnership with Focus Química, bringing its fermentation-derived cosmetic ingredients closer to one of the world’s most innovative beauty markets.

Read the full press release from here: In-cosmetics: Focus Química announces exclusive distribution of ÄIO in Brazil.

Brazil has been part of the ÄIO story long before the company was founded.

ÄIO’s CEO and co-founder, Dr. Nemailla Bonturi, was born in São Paulo, and studied Biotechnology at UNESP before completing her master’s and doctorate in Chemical Engineering at UNICAMP. Her scientific work with oleaginous yeasts laid important foundations for the research that would later develop into ÄIO’s technology. After moving to Estonia in 2016 to continue her scientific career, Nemailla worked alongside Professor Petri-Jaan Lahtvee to develop the technology further, focusing on higher-value ingredients. In 2022, the two scientists founded ÄIO to take fermentation-derived fats and oils beyond research and towards industrial applications.

Now, ten years after Nemailla moved from Brazil to Estonia, ÄIO’s technology is making its way back to Brazil, this time as commercially available cosmetic ingredients.

“Brazil is an extremely relevant market for cosmetics, with great innovation capacity and strong sensitivity to issues such as the origin of raw materials, traceability and environmental impact.” Dr. Nemailla Bonturi, CEO and co-founder of ÄIO.

A strategic partnership for the Brazilian market

ÄIO has partnered with Focus Química as its exclusive distributor for cosmetic ingredients in Brazil. With 17 years of experience in the Brazilian cosmetics sector, Focus Química combines ingredient distribution with technical support, market intelligence and close collaboration with manufacturers on new formulations and product development. This makes the partnership particularly valuable for ÄIO: introducing a novel ingredient technology requires much more than simply making products available locally. Formulators need samples, technical knowledge, application support and a partner who understands their market.

As Focus Química’s Technical Marketing Director Amanda Omodei explains, the partnership is about bringing biotechnology closer to the practical needs of Brazilian cosmetic development. “We believe that the next generation of cosmetic ingredients will be defined by the ability to combine science, sustainability and performance in a single solution. It was this vision of the future that brought us closer to ÄIO.”

For ÄIOthe goal is not simply to enter another geography, but to see the ingredients reach formulation benches, new product development projects and ultimately finished products for consumers. Following the official launch, Focus Química plans to initiate new development projects with local manufacturers.

Three fermentation-derived ingredients, now available in Brazil

Through Focus Química, Brazilian formulators, brands and manufacturers will gain local access to ÄIO’s three commercially available cosmetic ingredients: Fermira™ RedOil, ZymaLipid Complex and Encapsulated oil. The portfolio offers different functionalities for modern cosmetic formulation:

• Fermira™ RedOil is an active emollient rich in naturally occurring carotenoids and other bioactive compounds, bringing antioxidant benefits, emollience and skin-focused functionality.
• ZymaLipid Complex is a high-purity fatty acid complex designed to provide structure, emollience, stability and distinctive sensory properties.
• Encapsulated oil offers ÄIO’s lipid-rich yeast biomass in a versatile powder format, opening additional possibilities for multifunctional formulations.

All three ingredients are COSMOS and Vegan certified and can be used across a broad range of applications, from skincare and haircare to colour cosmetics and other personal care formulations.

For Dr. Magdalena Koziol, Head of Cosmetics Development at ÄIO, Brazil presents an especially exciting environment for this portfolio. “Brazil is one of the most innovative cosmetics markets in the world, and brands are constantly searching for the next big innovation. We are offering formulators lipids that allow them to go beyond conventional oils to create products with differentiated sensory and performance properties, capable of telling a story that consumers haven’t yet heard.”

Fermentation offers a different way to make lipids

Behind the ingredients is ÄIO’s fermentation technology. For Fermira™ RedOil and ZymaLipid Complex, an oleaginous yeast is cultivated in a bioreactor using nutrients that can include molasses. Instead of producing alcohol, as in many familiar fermentation processes, the yeast naturally accumulates lipids and other valuable compounds. Following fermentation, the biomass is collected and dried, and the lipids are extracted. This controlled production process creates an alternative to relying exclusively on conventional agricultural lipid sources. It can reduce dependence on large areas of agricultural land while providing greater consistency and predictability in ingredient production. For cosmetic formulators, however, the technology is only part of the story. The final ingredient still has to perform and that is why ÄIO’s cosmetics team develops and tests formulations using the ingredients in different applications and works with partners to understand how fermentation-derived lipids can provide the texture, stability, sensory experience and functionality expected from modern cosmetic products.

Brazilian science at the heart of ÄIO

The connection between ÄIO and Brazil extends beyond its CEO and that makes entering Brazil particularly meaningful. Today, Brazilian scientists and engineers play important roles across ÄIO’s R&D, bioinformatics and pilot-scale operations in Estonia. Nemailla highlighted this in the Brazilian announcement, noting that the leadership of ÄIO’s R&D, Pilot Plant and Bioinformatics teams includes Brazilian expertise.

Technology with strong Brazilian scientific roots has been developed, tested and scaled by an international team in Estonia. Now it is coming full circle as commercially available ingredients reach Brazilian formulators and manufacturers. It is a reminder of something fundamental to deeptech: innovation does not belong to one country. Science travels, people bring knowledge across borders, teams build on it and eventually, technology can return to where part of its story began in an entirely new form.

Fermira™ RedOil, ZymaLipid Complex and Encapsulated oil are commercially available. Brazilian formulators, brands and manufacturers interested in testing ÄIO ingredients can contact Focus Química for samples, technical support and formulation opportunities.

Now the next chapter starts where an important part of the story began.

ÄIO and Focus Química will officially launch the partnership at in-cosmetics Latin America in São Paulo on 23–24 September 2026. Visitors can meet the Focus Química team at booth F30, discover ÄIO’s ingredients and discuss opportunities for new formulation and development projects.

Thank you to Douglas Vocci, Amanda Omodei and the entire Focus Química team for your trust in ÄIO and our technology. We are excited to see what we can build together in Brazil. And thank you to Estela Mendonça and Cosmetic Innovation for sharing the story behind this new chapter for ÄIO.