Ramkumar Nair

Founder & CEO @ SMAQO

About

PhD in Industrial Biotechnology with a proven track record of building Mycorena into a leader in the alternative protein space. Led the company from its early stages, securing €35M in funding and assembling a high-performing team of 60+ experts, driving success in Sweden’s biotech industry. With over 11 years of research experience, specialized in fungi biotechnology and resource utilization, consistently delivering results in complex, multi-disciplinary projects. Innovations have led to 10+ patents and 25+ peer-reviewed publications, contributing to significant advancements in the field. Passionate about creating scalable, sustainable biotech solutions and bringing visionary ideas to life, always with a focus on impact and growth.

Country

Sweden

City

Greater Gothenburg Metropolitan Area

Industry

Biotechnology

Skill

Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Science, Protein Purification, Biotechnology, ELISA, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Lifesciences, Life Sciences, Research, Project Management, Scientific Writing, Scientific Communications, Startup Development, Entrepreneurship

Experience

Founder & CEO

SMAQO

2025-1 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County, Sweden

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Nuora Capital

2024-8 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County, Sweden

I co-founded Nuora Capital, a Swedish investment network of visionary angel investors focused on leveraging technology to transform the food sector and address climate challenges within the food industry. Our primary focus is on early-stage ventures that create positive environmental and social impact in Foodtech. Nuora Capital operates as a collective of investors united by a commitment to supporting innovative startups with the potential to drive meaningful change. For those interested in exploring investment opportunities or learning more about our initiatives, please contact us at connect@nuoracapital.com.

Founder & CEO

Mycorena

2017-4 - 2024-10 · 7 yrs 7 mos

Gothenburg, Sweden

I founded and led Mycorena (now Promyc, acquired by Veos Group), a biotech company developing sustainable mycoprotein-based solutions to transform the global food system. I built and managed a multidisciplinary team of 60+, raised €35M in funding, and established strategic partnerships to position Mycorena as a key player in the alternative protein space. My role encompassed overall strategy, operations, R&D oversight, and scaling innovative fermentation technologies into market-ready products. I led the company through its growth journey and exited via acquisition by Veos Group, with the company now operating under the name Promyc. https://www.promyc.com

Business Mentor

Founder Institute

2020-6 - 2023-12 · 3 yrs 7 mos

Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland

Researcher, Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences

University of Gothenburg

2018-6 - 2018-9 · 4 mos

Gothenburg, Sweden

Research Fellow

CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST)

2012-3 - 2013-10 · 1 yr 8 mos

Thiruvananthapuram Area, India

Research project funded by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi.

Graduate Researcher

National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH), Cochin University of Science and Technology

2011-8 - 2012-2 · 7 mos

Cochin Area, India

Graduate Researcher, ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT)

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

2010-10 - 2011-7 · 10 mos

Cochin Area, India

Education

University of Borås

Industrial Biotechnology

2013 - 2017 · 4 yrs

Use of edible filamentous fungi for creating industrial circular economy. The research project was funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Research Council Formas.