bioMérieux invests in Allergen Alert, a startup resulting from its intrapreneurship program
bioMérieux has just acquired a stake in Allergen Alert, an innovative startup specializing in the rapid detection of food allergens for individuals and professionals. The company is developing a portable, fast, and reliable solution that can identify the presence of allergens and gluten in food in just a few minutes, thereby contributing to food safety for people with allergies or suffering from celiac disease.
Allergen Alert promises to improve the lives of individuals with food allergies or celiac disease by reducing the risk of exposure to allergens and gluten. The France-based startup has developed a portable instrument for detecting allergens in food – anytime, anywhere.
On October 14, 2025, Allergen Alert completed a €3.6 million global financing round with DEMETER via the Metropolitan Industrial Seed Fund (FAIM) Lyon - Saint-Étienne, bioMérieux, the French Banque Publique d’investissement, and private banks.
bioMérieux technology serving allergen detection
Six percent of the European population suffers from food allergies, and this figure rises to 9% in the USA, Canada, and Australia.
“The number of people with food allergies has increased by 50% over the last 15 years. It’s a growing public health issue,” explains Bénédicte Astier, CEO of the startup. “Allergen Alert offers an innovative preventive solution, reducing the risk of exposure and thereby improving the quality of life for persons with allergies or suffering from celiac disease.”
Thanks to an exclusive bioMérieux technology license used in the production of the single-use consumable, the instrument activates this consumable to analyze a food sample and quickly deliver a result via a smartphone application.
This compact instrument is aimed at restaurant owners seeking to ensure food safety for their customers, and directly at consumers looking for peace-of-mind when choosing to dine out. It was developed in collaboration with allergists, emergency physicians, allergy patients and patient representatives, as well as food-safety and catering experts.
A project born of personal experience, supported by bioMérieux
After her daughter went into anaphylactic shock in 2022, Bénédicte Astier, then Quality Manager at bioMérieux, imagined a test capable of detecting allergens on the plate. She and two other colleagues, Edgard Minassian and David Mosticone, then applied to bioMérieux’s intrapreneurship program in order to assess the technical feasibility and commercial potential of the idea.
To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of its employees, bioMérieux created the InVENTURE program in 2021. The program enables them to suggest innovative ideas to meet public health needs. Selected projects benefit from dedicated time and coaching aimed at developing a proof of concept. Today, six projects have resulted in the creation of new products or services, while seven more are in development. Allergen Alert is the first to become an independent startup.
At the heart of an entrepreneurial ecosystem
At the end of the intrapreneurship program, Bénédicte Astier left bioMérieux to establish the startup in October 2024. “I’m very grateful to bioMérieux. Without its support, Allergen Alert would never have seen the light of day,” she confides. Having entered its seed phase, the company has already won numerous innovation awards and subsidies, enabling it to pursue its development.
The recently closed fundraising round constitutes an essential step forward. Three recruitments are already underway.
And Pierre Boulud, Chief Executive Officer of bioMérieux, concluded: “We are very proud to support Allergen Alert. This innovation builds on technologies developed within our company and addresses a critical need for both allergic patients and professionals. It’s a great entrepreneurial story that now can grow beyond bioMérieux. Congratulations to Bénédicte Astier for her dedication, and long live Allergen Alert!”
For more information, visit Allergen Alert website.
