Wilk

Wilk (formerly Biomilk before December 2021) is the world’s first publicly listed cell-cultured milk company. The Israeli-based startup produces lab-cultured cow milk, cultured human breast milk, and high-grade human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) from isolated bovine mammary cells in a bioreactor. Wilk’s process includes proliferating cells in a bioreactor and once a particular number of cells have divided, emitting signals to start producing milk. 

In February 2022, Wilk received patent approval for its methods and systems for in-vitro milk production from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), making the startup an exclusive patent holder for research methods and technologies for the production of cultured milk and breastmilk. Further, in June 2022 , the company successfully produced the breast milk protein lactoferrin, a protein vital for the growth and development of infants. This breakthrough enables Wilk to expedite commercialization and offer breast milk components to infant formula producers. Wilk’s cultured breast milk also includes the complex carbohydrates that support the development of the immune system. In November 2022, Wilk announced that it had developed yogurt using cultured milk fat and that the product would undergo laboratory testing to confirm it meets the necessary chemical and biological requirements.

Key customers and partnerships

In July 2021, following a strategic investment by the Central Bottling Company (CBC), a food and beverage manufacturer and marketer as well as the exclusive Israel franchisee of Coca-Cola, agreed and signed a strategic agreement with Wilk to transfer the developed Wilk products to CBC-owned Tara Dairy for the pilot commercial production.

In March 2022 , Wilk joined Cellular Agriculture Europe, making it the first dairy company to join the coalition. In April 2023 , following an investment in the company, Danone announced that it intended to collaborate with Wilk to develop cultured breast milk components for infant formula. Meanwhile, Stakeholder Foods announced that it aimed to explore strategic collaborations in cultured milk biology and printing technologies.

Funding and financials

In April 2023 , the company raised USD 3.5 million in a strategic investment round led by Danone Manifesto Ventures. In July 2021, CBC agreed to invest up to USD 2 million in the company. Under the agreement, USD 1 million will be invested in Biomilk on the signing of a final agreement and the remaining USD 1 million in accordance with pre-agreed milestones. The startup intended to use the funds to accelerate its development schedule and product launch.

Wilk successfully completed its IPO on April 18, 2021, on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), raising USD 9.3 million (NIS 30 million). In February 2021, Wilk completed a merger with Fantasy Network, a publicly traded shell company, to enable the IPO. The company planned to use most of the funding to expand its research team and scale its technology into new markets such as nutraceuticals to develop pharmaceutical alternatives (medicines) using cultured milk. Wilk also planned an IPO on the Nasdaq stock exchange.