Novya Biotech develops tiny yeast factories

For centuries, yeast has played a key role in wine and bread. Today, it is also used to produce insulin and other valuable substances. However, modifying yeast DNA to enable this is a slow and complex process, until now.

A faster method

Microbiologist Carina Nieuwenweg discovered a faster method during her PhD at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), where she worked with CRISPR pioneers John van der Oost and Raymond Staals. “I realised the technique worked so well, it might be worth patenting,” Carina recalls. After completing her PhD in 2024, Nieuwenweg founded Novya Biotech, a deep-tech startup that transforms yeast cells into efficient ‘micro factories’.

Support from WUR was crucial. She continues: “They helped us apply for funding and connected us with experts like assistant professor Stefan Hoffmann, a leading yeast researcher. Business developers helped us through key decisions. Starthub Wageningen brought us relevant people who think along with us and sometimes offer fresh insights. Often, you don’t even know where to start, so having someone help you map out what needs to be done is invaluable.”

Exploring markets

Novya Biotech now focusses on improving yeast cell performance and exploring markets such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Using CRISPR-Cas, their technology allows for fast, precise, and repeatable DNA edits, radically reducing development time. By stacking modifications, Novya Biotech can rapidly tailor yeast for new applications, from aromas and food ingredients to medicines and products like dyes and pigments. Novya grew from an academic idea into a functioning spin-off of Wageningen University & Research.