RETHINKING SALT: Venture Clienting between Nucaps and K+S

Reducing salt intake is a global health priority, but for the food industry, it presents a significant hurdle: how do you lower sodium without losing the taste and functionality consumers crave? The European strategy to reduce sodium intake often hits a wall when products lose their flavor profile or shelf-life stability.

Our partner K+S faced this challenge in a pilot project with Nucaps, a Spanish startup and the world's first development platform for functional ingredients. Nucaps develops and produces new kinds of functional ingredients. 

FROM RAW SALT TO INTELLIGENT INGREDIENTS

NuCaps developed a protein-based encapsulation technology to obtain a dry powder containing sodium salt from K+S, with a rheology of powder superior to 500 microns, suitable for application in the food sector and free from allergens. The powder is designed to allow controlled and delayed release of salt in the mouth, thereby enhancing the perception of saltiness.

Project Deliverables

This five-month pilot (running from November 2024 to April 2025) had a clear focus on commercial sustainability. With a budget of €20k, the teams have moved through few development phases:

• Proof of Concept: Testing 12 different protein-based variants to select the most promising prototype.

• Optimization: Refining the prototype to perfect the saltiness profile while eliminating off-flavors and ensuring the right color.

• Pilot Scale-up: Conducting a technical-economic evaluation to ensure the solution is ready for real-world industrial application.

By combining the deep market presence of K+S with the agile, specialized bio-innovation of Nucaps, this collaboration demonstrates how Venture Clienting can solve complex sensory problems. Together, they proved that food can be both healthier for the heart and satisfying for the palate. 

About Nucaps

Since its founding in 2017 in Pamplona, Nucaps has emerged as a powerhouse in Spanish biotechnology. A successful alumnus of RootCamp’s Desafia Program, the company was named one of Spain’s 101 most impactful startups and recognized among the top 20 innovations in mass consumption. By microencapsulating bioactives and probiotics, Nucaps is proving that high-tech functional ingredients can deliver a real impact on human health without sacrificing nutrition, cost, or taste.

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Check out RootCamps Venture Clienting servies, which allows corporations to systematically assess and implement startup solutions in a structured, low-risk way and without taking equity.