VENICE, CALIF. — Nutrition Innovation, a food and technology company that focuses on sugar innovation, will seek to enter the North American market now that it has raised $5 million in Series A funding.

Technology from Singapore-based Nutrition Innovation allows sugar companies to produce Nucane, a range of low-glycemic sugars. Through Nutrition Innovation’s patent-protected process, Nucane sugars retain the antioxidants and minerals, like calcium and magnesium, that occur naturally in cane sugar, slow the metabolism of sucrose, and help block the absorption of glucose, according to the company.

Nucane may reduce sugar by up to 70% in foods and beverages, according to Nutrition Innovation, which has a U.S. office in Venice, Calif. The licensed technology, Nucane raw sugar, already is in use in the markets of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa.

VisVires New Protein, a venture fund in Asia, led the Series A funding.

“Nutrition Innovation presents an opportunity to overhaul the global sugar market with a healthier product,” said Matthieu Vermersch, founder and managing partner of VisVires New Protein. “Food ingredients, like sugar, are characterized by their specific functional properties, making them essential but extremely challenging to replace in food products.

 “The value proposition of Nutrition Innovation is compelling not just for the sugar mills and refineries but also for food manufacturers and consumers. Despite being less than two years old, the swift establishment of their global supply footprint is a true testament to the relevance of their technology and product.”