Stockholm's Nomio raises $4m to scale its broccoli-derived performance shot

Nomio, the Stockholm-based sports nutrition startup, has raised $4 million in fresh funding, led by Collaborative Fund. The capital will fund the brand's move from an insider product used by elite athletes into a broader commercial offering across the US and UK.

The brand is built around isothiocyanates (ITCs) — bioactive compounds derived from broccoli sprouts — which Nomio claims to have commercialised at scale for the first time in a performance drink format.

How the shot works

Unlike caffeine- or nitrate-based pre-workouts, Nomio's 60ml shot combines bioavailable ITCs with lemon juice and sugar. Taken hours before intense activity, it is shown to reduce lactate levels by up to 12% while activating the Nrf2 pathway — a cellular defence mechanism linked to oxidative stress management — according to the brand.

The stated effects: higher sustained output during exercise, reduced muscle soreness, and improved heart rate variability in recovery. Nomio's proprietary stabilisation process for ITCs, which are notoriously hard to preserve in liquid form, is the technical moat the company is positioning as its barrier to entry.

The functional shots land grab

Nomio is entering a crowded but fast-growing category. The global functional shots market is projected to reach approximately $1.4 billion by 2027, growing at a 16% CAGR, according to KBV Research.

Most of that growth is concentrated in energy, immunity, and cognitive formats. Nomio is carving out a narrower position in endurance and recovery, a space it argues is under-served by the generic wellness-shot crowd.

Traction through athletes, not ads

Launched in January 2025, Nomio has grown through organic adoption by elite runners and cyclists. Notable users include Cole Hocker, the American indoor mile record-holder, Andreas Almgren, the European multi-distance champion, and several professional cycling teams where marginal recovery gains translate directly to race results.

That athlete-first traction has allowed the brand to build credibility without heavy marketing spend, reinforcing its positioning as a performance tool rather than a lifestyle drink.

What's next

Nomio will use the fresh capital to expand into the US and UK, moving from Nordic insider secret toward a mainstream performance product. More at nomio.com.