Conversation with Karim-Franck Khinouche of Novolyze

Food safety is a multibillion-dollar industry, essential to safeguarding public health and preventing foodborne illnesses. I recently sat down with Karim-Franck Khinouche, CEO and Founder of Novolyze, to discuss his journey and the innovative solutions his company is bringing to food safety.

FTW: Karim-Franck, can you share a bit about your background and how it led to starting Novolyze? 

K-F: I’m an industrial engineer with a focus on food production, educated at AgroSup Dijon. I also earned an MSc in entrepreneurship from EMlyon business school in France. After working for an equipment manufacturer, I saw an opportunity to create an impactful business. I noticed a significant gap: food processors lacked the tools to accurately measure how effective their equipment was in killing pathogens. As a result, they often overprocessed food, wasting resources.

FTW: How does Novolyze address this issue? 

K-F: Novolyze was founded in 2012 to help food companies optimize food safety and quality systems. Our first product, Smart Process Control, allows clients to connect their machines, even older ones, with IoT devices that gather data without a complete overhaul. Using our microbial models and algorithms, we can assess real-time food safety risks, allowing clients to make informed adjustments, such as reducing cooking times, while maintaining safety standards.

FTW: Can you explain what you mean by a “process deviation”?

K-F: A process deviation occurs when something, like temperature, isn't optimal. If it's critical, the product might need to be reprocessed or discarded. But when it's non-critical, the food can still be sold, significantly cutting costs and food waste. We’re unique in that we analyze data from traditionally siloed systems and provide holistic insights, empowering manufacturers to make more efficient decisions.

FTW: What do you hope Novolyze will achieve?

K-F: Beyond improving food safety, we want to reduce overprocessing and its environmental footprint. The food industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and water usage. By minimizing waste and unnecessary processing, we can help mitigate these impacts while ensuring food remains safe.

FTW: Can you give an example of how your system works in practice?

K-F: We offer various modules, but let's taje the example of our Smart Process Control system, installed on an oven cooking sausages. The temperature might be measured at just one point, but it varies across the oven. Our system predicts temperatures at different points and adapts the process in real time, ensuring safety without overprocessing. Each batch can require different treatment based on its composition, and our system enables that flexibility.

FTW: What’s your business model?

K-F: We operate on a B2B SaaS model, offering hardware and software as a service. We retrofit existing equipment to optimize hygiene and efficiency, guiding clients on where to focus resources.

FTW: How large is your company and who are your clients?

K-F: We have a team of 35 spread across the U.S., France, and Serbia. We’re working with many of the world’s largest food companies, including Ferrero, Coca-Cola, and ADM, across various sectors like proteins, dairy, confectionery, and prepared foods.

FTW: Are there other companies tackling this problem? 

K-F: There are companies focused on environmental monitoring, but we’re the only vertical SaaS specializing in food safety. The market is vast, with companies spending 15-20% of their revenue on food safety and quality. We see billions in potential just in North America and Europe.

FTW: What’s next for Novolyze?

K-F: We're focusing on expanding our SME client base and encouraging our existing clients to adopt more modules across their factories. We’re also forming strategic partnerships with other players of the sector such as equipment manufacturers, and will soon release a GenAI food safety assistant that replicates over a decade of food safety expertise.

FTW: Have you raised funding to support this growth?

K-F: Yes, we’ve secured funding from Wave Equity Partners, the EU Deeptech fund, and other co-investors. Scaling a global platform requires significant investment, and we’re committed to growing Novolyze to meet those standards.

FTW: Who should reach out to you? 

K-F: If you’re a supplier to the food industry or a food processor facing significant challenges, we’d love to talk. I’m also open to supporting tech founders — they can reach me via email.