Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem are you solving?
Insempra: Insempra is a biotechnology company that develops bio-based ingredients using fermentation. Our goal is to replace petrochemical raw materials with sustainable alternatives that convince through superior quality and functionality. We focus on applications in the cosmetics, food, and textile industries. Our products enable companies to make their product formulations more environmentally friendly and actively support the transition to a regenerative future.
Munich Startup: But that’s nothing new!
Insempra: Sustainable alternatives aren’t new – but many are either difficult to scale or fail to meet the high standards major brands have for quality, availability, and functionality. That’s exactly where we come in: our ingredients combine innovation with real industrial feasibility. What drives us is the growing demand for sustainable solutions that are bio-based and naturally produced. Consumers are demanding this – and we provide the building blocks for it.
Sustainable, scalable & market-ready
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Insempra: Our founder Jens Klein was previously CEO of AMSilk, the world’s first provider of vegan silk polymers. From that experience, it was clear to him: if biotechnology is to make a real difference, it must be conceived and applied with industrial thinking. This is how the idea for Insempra emerged in 2020 – with the vision of developing biotechnological solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and market-ready.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Insempra: One of the biggest challenges is bringing biotechnology and market maturity together – both must go hand in hand. This requires a strong team that combines scientific depth with entrepreneurial thinking. Today, experts from 15 nations work with us, passionate and knowledgeable, continuously developing our platform and setting new standards for bio-based innovation.
Insempra wants to show what bio-based innovation can achieve
Munich Startup: Where do you want to be in one year, where in five years?
Insempra: In one year, we want to see our first ingredients successfully on the market – in real products that show what bio-based innovation can achieve. In five years, we want to be established as a technology partner for companies worldwide that want to produce more sustainably – whether in cosmetics, food, or materials industries.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Insempra: Munich offers optimal conditions for biotech: strong scientific institutions, international talent, a growing network, and good infrastructure. We’re located at the IZB in Martinsried – a place where research, startups, and industry really come together. The exchange there is incredibly valuable, and we appreciate our proximity to institutions like the Max Planck Institute or LMU.
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
Insempra: At Insempra, the team is at the center. Everyone at Insempra brings unique expertise and motivation – and together we work to bring regenerative technologies into practice. Whether hidden champion or shooting star: what matters is that we shape a better future together.
