As major universities look to spin-out and license key discoveries, global food and pharma businesses open up venture funds and external innovation programs and incubators to draw innovative entrepreneurs into their orbit – there are rich pickings for probiotic, prebiotic, and microbiome pioneers in search of money, experience and a global platform for their ideas. 

NutraIngredients was on the hunt for entrepreneurial consumer-facing, science or technology based start-ups to join us at the Probiota Americas in Vancouver, June 2026.  The competition was free to enter and is open to entrepreneurial, consumer-facing, science or technology-based start-ups in the microbiome field and is a great opportunity to elevate your company’s profile, gain industry recognition, and connect with potential partners and investors.

ClostraBio is leveraging a science driven, multi-pronged approach to address conditions of the lower gut, using novel biotechnology to harness natural pathways. The Company has launched a next-generation probiotic, CLB101™, that produces butyrate in the lower gut to impact intestinal barrier function and promote gut health. ClostraBio is also developing a novel polymeric prodrug platform designed to deliver small molecules to the lower gut. The Company was spun out of the University of Chicago and is incubated at Portal Innovations.

www.ClostraBio.com

Holobiome enables precision modification of the human gut microbiome, through prebiotics, probiotics, and post-biotics. Their world-class microbiome platform includes the Holobiome Microbiome Vault, HoloAtlas and HoloFabric, foundational AI models for microbiome discovery and development. These resources are used to discover superhero microbes and ingredients to develop as consumer products or drugs, with an initial focus on the gut-brain-axis.

www.Holobiome.com

Kioga is building the “Old Friends” ingredient category - postbiotics inspired by beneficial, nature-based microbes humans evolved with but have largely lost in modern life. Old Friends ingredients extend beyond the gut, working through the gut–immune–x axes to retrain the immune system and restore resilience at its source. Kioga’s lead ingredient, NeuroAlly™, is a clinically validated postbiotic supporting immune–brain balance, stress resilience, and healthy brain aging. Kioga partners with leading brands to define the next generation of mental resilience.

www.Kioga.com