Plants are an inexhaustible source of resources despite climate change and abuse to which they are subjected by human action. His richness and possibilities were the source of inspiration that Guio more than a decade ago to Albert Jané and Óscar Expósito, biotechnologist and biochemist and botanical biologist, respectively, to found Vytrus Biotech. «We saw the potential that plant cells had for industry and the low application of this technology,» says Jané. Thus they threw themselves into the adventure and created a business plan. The first focused on the pharmaceutical sector, but they dismissed it for its slowness to launch a product and high investment. From there they jumped to the cosmetic, more dynamic, with less need for investment and in which regulatory barriers are more accessible. Now this is its main focus, although, as Jané explains, they do not rule out reaching others such as dermatology, functional food or veterinary products. His technology is to know how the plant behaves in nature to take advantage of it for the benefit of people. To do this, they extract their stem cells and cultivate them in reactors in the laboratory (they do not need ground) in isolation, in appropriate conditions to each species and in a controlled way, without times of rain, drought, cold or extreme heat. A system that makes them grow exponentially, multiplying by five the amount of plant obtained in just 15 days and sustainably since they do not need irrigation. This is obtained by the active ingredients, which are added to the cosmetics formula, which give it value and effectiveness. «From Granado, for example, we have obtained molecules that eliminate skin spots,» says the co -founder.
24 species
They work with 24 species of plants from which they have obtained 21 principles, but, according to Jané, the possibilities are endless, since any plant extract can be used and from each obtain different products. Its objective is to get between one and two new every year. In 2022, Vytrus Biotech made the leap to BME Growth after marking a path in which capital demanded to grow. Since last year until 2027 they maintain a strategic plan to transform into a multitecnological company and to incorporate complementary technologies through investments in other companies. To achieve this, they have made a capital round of 2.3 million euros, between capital expansion and sale of shares, in which it has increased and renewed part of its shareholders that currently be distributed by 34% for the founders and The rest between one of the GVC GAESCO funds, the family Office Boyser, linked to the company Fluidra, perfumery Júia and the Institut Català de Finances (ICF). “Growing inorganically is one of the objectives. At the moment they will be small investments in other companies, but some purchase operation is also contemplated here or in Europe. It is not a sector in which there are many companies like ours. The competition has the fingers of the hand. We are looking for companies that diversify the offer, which are from the cosmetic sector and have a benefit. ”With 40 employees, in 2023 Vytrus invoiced 3.74 million, while in the first new months of last year it closed with sales of 3.69 million. For its part, every year they invest a million in R&D. 70% of their sales are international with customers from 39 countries, among which are companies such as the Danish Scandinavian Labs, with products for hair growth, or the Austrian ringana, cosmetics in general. “We don't look for new destinations, but reinforce the presence where we are. We have also started to market directly, without distributors, ”says Jané.