Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN), a Toronto-based food-as-medicine company, has raised $5 million in an over-subscribed Series A financing round. The round was led by dsm-firmenich Venturing and the Corporate Venture Capital arm of Ajinomoto Co., Inc., with participation from PeakBridge, Elder Ventures, angel investors, and existing shareholders.

EMN focuses on improving surgical outcomes through specialized medical nutrition. Its flagship product, ENROUTE®, is a proprietary, evidence-based nutrition program tailored to support patients before and after surgery. Designed to address the unique nutritional needs of surgical patients, ENROUTE® helps reduce complications, speed up recovery, and improve the overall patient experience. By delivering targeted nutrients that assist in muscle mass preservation, immune support, and tissue repair, EMN aims to shift the way nutrition is integrated into surgical care.

The newly raised funds will be used to expand the availability of ENROUTE® across North America. EMN plans to enhance collaboration with surgeons and healthcare teams to make nutrition an integral part of surgical protocols. The company believes that by embedding evidence-based nutrition in pre- and post-operative care, healthcare providers can deliver more personalized, effective outcomes for patients.

CEO and co-founder Eric Zimmerman shared that the funding marks a critical milestone in EMN’s mission to transform surgical care through nutrition. He emphasized the role of nutrition as a vital, yet often overlooked, component of surgical recovery. According to Zimmerman, the investment will accelerate the company’s efforts to scale its nutrition technology and support a broader patient population.

The company’s innovative approach has attracted strong interest from strategic partners. Arpesh Mehta, Investment Director at dsm-firmenich Venturing, praised EMN’s scientific foundation and patient-first vision. He noted that the company’s dedication to clinically validated, functional nutrition aligns well with the broader push to improve human health through dietary innovation.

Shunji Takehana, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Innovation Strategy and Corporate Venture Capital at Ajinomoto, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that EMN’s mission complements Ajinomoto’s focus on nutritional support for prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and healthy aging. He described the collaboration as the start of a strategic alignment that could lead to further innovation in the space.

From an investment perspective, Gali Artzi, Chief Technology Officer at PeakBridge, highlighted the significance of EMN’s work in the food-as-medicine sector. He said EMN is uniquely positioned to address an underserved segment of the healthcare system, adding that the company’s solution holds potential to meaningfully improve clinical outcomes.

With offices in Toronto and Chicago, EMN is redefining the role of nutrition in healthcare, particularly in surgery where malnutrition can often go unaddressed. The company aims to establish a new standard of care where nutrition is seen as an essential medical tool, rather than an afterthought.

The $5 million Series A round provides a strong foundation for EMN to scale its impact, forge new healthcare partnerships, and continue developing science-backed nutrition solutions for surgical patients. As healthcare systems increasingly recognize the value of preventative and recovery-focused nutrition, EMN is well-positioned to lead the transformation in surgical care.