1. Organization / Startup Name
DENIPLANT
2. Short Description
DENIPLANT is an award-winning Romanian biotech and phytotherapy startup specializing in natural bioactive compounds that modulate the human microbiome.
Founded on a patented herbal formulation (Gold Medal at Inventa), the company has evolved into a research-driven enterprise.
Through the Deniplant-Aide Santé Biomedicine Center, we collaborate with medical specialists to study the gut-skin axis, developing functional ingredients that address autoimmune, metabolic, and neurological wellness.
Our core innovation lies in scientifically backed, plant-based extracts (derived from medicinal plants, fruit tree buds, and wild berries) that act as natural microbiome modulators.
With over 30 years of observational data presented at 700+ scientific conferences, DENIPLANT transitions traditional phytotherapy into scalable functional nutrition. We offer a diversified portfolio of proprietary nutraceuticals and functional drink bases targeting stress management, metabolic health, and immune support, perfectly aligned with modern consumer demands for preventative health
4. Startup LinkedIn / Social Media
5. Your Full Name
Gheorghe Giurgiu
6. Contact Email Address
giurgiu@deniplant.ro
7. Country of Operation
Romania
8. Founder / Co-founder 1 LinkedIn
9. Founder / Co-founder 2 LinkedIn (if applicable)
Doinita Daniela Giurgiu
10. Number of Full-Time Employees
2
11. Which area best describes your solution?
[X] Healthy aging
[ ] Mental wellness
[X] Metabolic health
12. Describe the functional ingredient + mechanism of action
DENIPLANT delivers proprietary, standardized bioactive complexes derived from cultivated and wild-crafted medicinal plants, fruit tree buds (meristematic tissues), and functional food botanicals. Operating through the gut-skin and gut-brain axes, these complex formulations act as potent immunomodulators that restore human microbiome homeostasis, directly regulating metabolic and immune pathways.
At the molecular and cellular level, our bioactive compounds exhibit a targeted anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory cascade:
Microbiome Modulation: By acting as selective prebiotics/substrates, the ingredients promote the growth of beneficial gut microbiota, enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, which optimizes metabolic signaling and intestinal barrier integrity.
Cytokine Inhibition: The formulation directly downregulates the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically targeting IL-17A, IL-12, IL-23, and IL-1 beta.
TNF-Alpha Suppression: It significantly inhibits TNF-alpha expression, mitigating systemic low-grade inflammation which is a primary driver of metabolic syndrome and dysbiosis.
T-Cell Regulation: The biochemical matrix modulates T-lymphocyte responses, shifting the immune profile from a chronic inflammatory state to homeostasis.
13. Does your ingredient have scientific validation?
[X] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] In progress
14. Describe the scientific evidence (please include links or DOIs if available)
The scientific validation of DENIPLANT’s formulations bridges traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with modern, evidence-based phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical observation:
- Proprietary Patent & Clinical Recognition: Our foundational formulation holds a Romanian Patent of Invention (1992) and was awarded a Gold Medal at the Inventa World Exhibition of Innovation (1997), validating its biochemical efficacy.
- Extensive Observational Data: Over the last three decades, clinical and observational data on patients using DENIPLANT formulations have been compiled. These results, demonstrating safe and effective microbiome modulation and immune regulation, have been published and presented across more than 700 national and international scientific conferences. https://deniplant.com/scientific-works/
- Standardized Botanical Matrix: Our active ingredients align with European Medicines Agency (EMA) monographs and leverage the superior chemical concentration of plant meristems (gemmotherapy), which are naturally rich in auxins, gibberellins, and nucleic acids for cellular regeneration.
- Safety & Non-Interaction Profile: Observational data confirms that our precise dosing protocols ensure zero negative interactions with standard allopathic treatments, rendering the ingredient highly stable and safe for functional beverage matrixes
- .Principal Researcher ORCID iD:
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5449-2712
https://srcpublishers.com/diabetes-research-reviews/article/view/7716
Scientific Portfolio & Data Repository: https://share.google/ZvhDLLAQu0HoWdubu
15. IP Status
[X] Patent granted
[ ] Patent pending / published
[X] Trade secret
[ ] None
16. What is the regulatory status of your ingredient in the EU (including EFSA, if applicable)?
[X] Approved
[ ] In progress
[ ] Not required
[ ] Not started
Justification: All botanical raw materials, fruit tree buds (gemmotherapy), and functional spices utilized in DENIPLANT formulations are strictly classified as non-Novel Foods under EU regulations.
They comply with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and Regulation (EU) No 432/2012.
Our ingredients are fully registered and authorized as food supplements/nutraceuticals within the EU market, holding complete commercial clearance for human consumption without requiring additional, non-started EFSA novel food applications.
17. What is the format of your solution?
[ ] Ingredient (B2B)
[X] Ready-to-drink (RTD, B2C)
[X] Ready-to-mix (RTM / powders / soluble systems)
[ ] Functional shots / microdose formats
[ ] Concentrates or water drops/tablets/microdrinks
[ ] Tech platform / solution
[ ] Other
18. Have you tested it in liquid or food applications, beyond laboratory or kitchen scale?
[X] Yes (pilot / industrial validation)
[ ] Yes (lab/kitchen scale only)
[ ] No
[ ] In progress
19. If yes, please describe the results and how your ingredient or solution integrates into liquid or food formulations (including product type, scale, and main learnings).
DENIPLANT has successfully commercialized and industrially scaled its botanical matrices as functional Ready-to-Mix (RTM) and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) solutions.
Our formulations are processed into a standardized, ultra-fine dry powder (1g micro-dosed formats) designed for optimal fluid dynamic integration.
Integration into Liquid Formulations & Food Matrices:
- Solubility & Stability: Thanks to our advanced mechanical micronization process, the plant-based powder achieves rapid dispersion and high stability in liquid phases. It hot-infuses or cold-dissolves efficiently without precipitating or destabilizing the liquid matrix.
- Enhanced Biodisponibility: The ultra-fine particle profile maximizes the surface area of the active compounds (polyphenols, meristematic extracts). This significantly increases bioavailability and accelerates gastrointestinal absorption without requiring artificial chemical carriers.
- Organoleptic Neutrality: The botanical complexes maintain a balanced, natural flavor profile, making them easily adaptable to commercial functional beverage bases (beers, mineral waters, juices) without disrupting target organoleptic standards.
Scale and Key Learnings:
Microbiome-Driven Efficacy: Longitudinal observational data shows that regular consumption of the dissolved matrix actively modulates the gut-skin axis, proving that liquid delivery is the most bio-efficient vehicle for systemic immunomodulation and metabolic regulation.
Commercial Scale Validation: The solution is fully validated, having moved beyond the pilot phase into commercial production with a stable supply chain in Romania.
20.Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
[ ] TRL 1–3: Early-stage research / concept
[ ] TRL 4–6: Validation & pilot stage
[X] TRL 7–9: Market-ready / industrial scale
21. What are your main scaling challenges?
Our primary scaling challenge is securing an international co-manufacturing and strategic distribution partner. While our formulations are fully developed and commercially validated in Eastern Europe
, we require an established global infrastructure to scale production, expand distribution networks, and optimize the delivery of our functional ingredient matrices into high-volume beverage segments worldwide.
22. What is your current production capacity and manufacturing setup?
Production Volume: We possess a stable annual manufacturing capacity of over 500,000 retail units (packs), which can be readily adjusted or scaled up in response to commercial forecasts.
Supply Chain Resilience: To ensure year-round batch consistency, our primary active botanical ingredients are sourced and quality-controlled through our internal supply network. Complementary functional food ingredients and spices are imported directly from certified suppliers in Spain and Italy.
Manufacturing Setup: We operate through a hybrid asset-light model, partnering with local licensed contract manufacturers (CMOs) for optimized blending, strict quality assurance, and automated packaging.
23. Typical lead time for production and Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): Highly flexible. We offer a 0-MOQ policy for initial market entry phases, pilot programs, and joint formulation trials.
Lead Time: 5 business days for existing warehouse inventory. For new production runs or custom batch blending, restocking and shipping operations are structured on a agile quarterly rotation cycle.
Payment & Terms: Standard commercial terms (including upfront payments for early batches), negotiable based on pilot scope and partnership agreements
24. Why do you believe your solution is a good fit for collaborating with Hijos de Rivera?
A partnership between DENIPLANT and Corporación Hijos de Rivera creates a powerful synergy by merging our 30-year expertise in microbiome-modulating phytotherapy with the industrial mastery of a global beverage leader and certified B-Corp.
Strategic Integration Opportunities:
- Portfolio Diversification: Integrating DENIPLANT’s patented botanical formulations allows Hijos de Rivera to capture the premium global wellness market, embedding functional health benefits directly into flagship product lines.
- Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Innovation: Our scalable, micronized botanical complexes can easily transition into functional non-alcoholic beers (e.g., Estrella Galicia 0,0 expansions), carbonated wellness tonics, or premium functional waters (e.g., Cabreiroá).
- Unfair Competitive Advantage: Our proprietary patents and deep trade secrets in microbiome modulation offer Hijos de Rivera exclusive, scientifically-backed formulas that stand out against generic wellness brands.
Technical Integration Matrix:
| Strategic Wellness Pillar | DENIPLANT Mechanism of Action | Hijos de Rivera Beverage Application |
| Microbiome Integration | Resolves gut dysbiosis via natural, bioavailable plant prebiotics. | Functional waters and enriched non-alcoholic beers. |
| Metabolic Health | Cellular immunomodulation targeting systemic inflammation. | Concentrated wellness shots, immunity-boosting tonics. |
| Immune & Stress Support | Suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, TNF-alpha). | Premium daily botanical infusions and RTD teas. |
Regulatory Compliance Aligned with B-Corp Values:
We fully understand that market success requires rigorous adherence to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regulations. Our joint commercial positioning will focus strictly on “preventative wellness, metabolic balance, and homeostasis,” fully complying with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This ensures a clean label, consumer trust, and complete regulatory alignment with Hijos de Rivera’s sustainable, high-impact brand ethos
25. Pitchdeck: Please insert a viewable link to your Pitch Deck
26. How did you first hear about the Impact Sips challenge?
[ ] LinkedIn Post
[ ] LinkedIn Ads
[X] EIT Food Team referral
[ ] Hijos de Rivera
[ ] Referral from partner or peer
[X] EIT Food Newsletter
[X] EIT Food Website
[ ] Email
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