Company Overview#
TWELL is a Korean bio company that turns a native plant, Aster yomena, into standardized functional ingredients. It controls the full chain from cultivation to finished ingredient, using extraction and fermentation to raise the plant’s value. Its ingredient platform is called YomenaX.
The company first brought its material to market in pet health with functional feed and supplements, which now generate steady cash flow. It is building on that base to expand into cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food ingredients. TWELL is an agricultural corporation based in Yeongcheon, with its own farm, R&D center, and production.
Technology & Product#
TWELL grows Aster yomena and converts it into bioactive ingredients. The core process combines solvent extraction with microbial fermentation. Its lead extract ingredient, Implacell (YomenaX Extract), is standardized by HPLC against marker compounds such as rutin and dicaffeoylquinic acids.
Fermentation is the key step. Using its own strain, Lactobacillus fermentum MGE-3145, the company converts inactive compounds into more active ones. This aims to raise potency and bioavailability, so a smaller dose can reach the same effect. The process also generates new metabolites that create fresh IP. The YomenaX roadmap extends the same material into several product lines: an extract, a water-based cosmetic base, a fermented ingredient, an immune-support ingredient, and a liposomal delivery format. On the consumer side, TWELL sells functional pet feed, treats, prescription-diet feed, and supplements.
Market & Use Cases#
TWELL works across four industries from one material: cosmetics, nutraceuticals, functional food, and animal feed. Today its revenue comes mainly from the pet health market, where functional feed and supplements have found steady repeat customers.
The larger opportunity is B2B ingredient supply. The company targets cosmetic ODMs and brands, nutraceutical ODMs, and global ingredient firms that want natural, standardized, clean-label actives. Typical uses include skincare ingredients, anti-obesity and atopy-related supplement actives, and immune-support ingredients. Over time, TWELL plans to move from selling products to supplying ingredients and then licensing its technology.
Traction & References#
2025 revenue was about USD 2.4 million, up from about USD 1.0 million in 2024, driven by functional pet products. The repurchase rate is around 32%, which shows strong customer loyalty. TWELL exports to three Southeast Asian markets — Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia — with Thailand as the first export market in 2025.
On technology, the company received a KIST technology transfer at its start and developed the improved Aster yomena cultivar ‘Rubyche’ with the Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services. It has two SCI papers (anti-obesity published, atopy submitted), filed core patents in Korea with a PCT application in progress, and holds the proprietary strain L. fermentum MGE-3145. Preclinical atopy work in a DNCB mouse model showed about 50% improvement in key markers, and beagle toxicology testing was passed. TWELL was selected for TIPS and secured several national R&D programs, including an SME Ministry fermented-extract program and the KOSME Deep-Tech Academy. It runs a lean R&D model with partners such as Chonnam National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Daegu University, Korea National University of Transportation, and the Korea Testing & Research Institute.
Collaboration Relevance#
TWELL fits partners who need natural, standardized functional ingredients with a secure, traceable supply. Good PoC candidates include cosmetic ODMs and brands testing a new plant-based active, nutraceutical companies evaluating an atopy or anti-obesity ingredient, and ingredient firms looking for a licensable strain and process.
Because TWELL controls cultivation, extraction, fermentation, and quality control in-house, it can offer traceable supply and standardized lots. This suits open-innovation and co-development projects where a partner wants to co-develop an approved ingredient or license IP. For Korea-Europe collaboration, the company’s clean-label botanical actives and fermentation IP are relevant for cosmetics and nutraceutical ingredient buyers, and its export experience in Asia shows it can serve overseas B2B customers.