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Natural Machines

HardwareBarcelona, SpainFounded 2012· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

The Foodini is an IoT-enabled 3D food printer that allows users to create a variety of savory and sweet dishes using fresh, real ingredients.

CEO / Founder
Emilio Sepulveda
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$5.4M
Latest Round
Series A
Key Investors
Plug and Play Topeka, Newchip Accelerator

Technology & Products

Key Products

["Foodini 3D Food Printer"]

Technological Advantage

Natural Machines' advantage lies in its integrated platform combining hardware (the Foodini printer), software (Foodini Creator), and a community aspect for sharing recipes. This creates a comprehensive ecosystem for users. Their technology is also being adapted for pharmaceuticals and personal care, diversifying their market.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

To enable food personalization, promote healthier eating with fresh ingredients, and reduce food waste in both professional and domestic kitchens through an innovative kitchen appliance.

How They Differentiate

Natural Machines differentiates by focusing on fresh ingredients and targeting a broad market including professional, healthcare, and R&D sectors. While competitors often focus on specific materials like chocolate (Print2taste) or dough (BeeHex), Foodini is designed to be more versatile. Its IoT connectivity and recipe-sharing platform also enhance user engagement.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Professional kitchens (chefs, restaurants, caterers), food manufacturers, research and educational institutions, and healthcare facilities (for creating textured foods for patients with dysphagia).

Industry Verticals

["Food & Beverage","Healthcare","Consumer Goods","Education"]

Competitors

byFlow; Print2taste GmbH (Procusini); BeeHex

Growth & Milestones

Major Milestones

["2012: Company founded.","2015: Recognized as one of the '100 Food Industry disruptors' by REIMAGINE FOOD.","2021: Partnered with BASF to expand into the personal care industry.","2022: Announced partnership with CurifyLabs for pharmaceutical applications.","2023: Named to the FoodTech 500 list for the 5th consecutive year."]

Notable Customers

Cocina Hermanos Torres (Michelin-starred restaurant)

https://www.naturalmachines.com

Why this company matters

Natural Machines positions its Foodini 3D food printer as a versatile alternative to single-material food printers. While competitors such as Print2taste focus on chocolate and BeeHex on dough, the Foodini uses an open-capsule system that accepts fresh, real ingredients, enabling savory and sweet dishes. This approach targets food personalization, healthier eating, and waste reduction in both professional and domestic settings.

The core hardware is paired with the Foodini Creator software and a recipe-sharing community, forming an integrated platform. The printer uses a material extrusion (MEX) process adapted for food, and the company has filed patents covering printer design and in-unit heating and cooking. Beyond food, Natural Machines has adapted its platform for pharmaceuticals, partnering with CurifyLabs for customized medicine production, and for personal care, collaborating with BASF on customized face masks.

Target customers include Michelin-starred restaurants like Cocina Hermanos Torres, food manufacturers, research institutions, and healthcare facilities that need textured foods for patients with dysphagia. The company has raised $5.4 million from investors including Plug and Play Topeka and Newchip Accelerator, and has been named to the FoodTech 500 list for five consecutive years through 2023.

A key open question is whether the consumer market for 3D food printing will grow beyond early adopters. Natural Machines' broad sector focus—food service, healthcare, and personal care—diversifies its revenue streams but also spreads resources across very different regulatory and go-to-market challenges.