Founderful is Switzerland’s leading pre-seed fund.  Founderful is the first, fast, and founder-friendly, backing Switzerland's best tech entrepreneurs to become global market leaders. Founded in 2019 and is located in Zurich, Zurich.

Founderful

Blue Horizon Corporation is an investment firm that invests in companies and businesses in the agriculture and food processing sector. The firm also partners with farmers, food producers, and distribution chains. It was founded in 2016 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Plant based, food tech,

Blue Horizon Corporation

Big Idea Ventures is the world’s most active investor in FoodTech investing in the best food technology and agritech companies globally. The company is focused on alternative protein with its New Protein Fund and commercialization of university intellectual property with its Generation Food Rural Partners fund. BIV is backed by a strong network of strategic partners including AAK, Avril, Bühler, Givaudan, Temasek Holdings, and Tyson Ventures, and is partnering with governments around the world working on food security and new food ecosystems. The firm has offices in New York, Paris and Singapore and has invested in more than 100 companies across 22 countries. For more information, visit bigideaventures.com

Big Idea Ventures

HackCapital emerged from the world’s largest Food and Climate community to open elite climate investing to the mass affluent.  HackCapital aims to become the platform of choice for the next generation of climate investors, backing founders with the scalable solutions we needed yesterday.  Simply put: Top notch angel investors funding the top 1% of climate startups from Stealth to Series A

HackCapital

ProVeg Incubator is the world’s leading Incubator of plant-based and cultured food startups. We are shaping the future of food by supporting the companies globally at the forefront of innovation. We offer our programme twice a year and accept around 10-13 startups per cohort.

ProVeg Incubator

Navus Ventures B.V. (“Navus”) is a venture capital firm aimed at high-tech and sustainable start-ups and scale-ups, part of a family office and linked to Lely (farming innovators). Founded in 2013, Navus has invested across a range of sectors and is now primarily focused on the ongoing transitions in food and energy. As a family funded VC, Navus is not subject to entry or exit pressure, invests both in typical VC setup as well as for longer holding periods and has simple governance allowing for quick decisions. Navus draws from the knowledge and network of the Lely family business, with a longstanding history in high-tech product development and successful market entry of innovations (but is not linked to the Lely business strategy). Our approach is hands-on and pragmatic, as an independent fund we can respond well to changing situations and act quickly and we support our portfolio as active shareholders with short communication lines to support management on strategic and operational matters. We value transparency and honesty in our relationship with start-ups and fellow investors.

Navus Ventures

Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent, incorporated public-law institution is its public service mandate. Enshrined in law, it governs the bank's economic, social, and environmental commitment.

Zürcher Kantonal Bank

MANDI is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on accelerating the adoption of disruptive technologies in the food and agriculture industries. From our offices in Latin America and Europe, we invest in start-ups that are reshaping how we produce and consume food. Our global network of industry leaders and our business expertise help founders accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation technologies.

Mandi Ventures

Joyful VC is Changing our world for the better means transforming our food system. It means supporting the development, production, and distribution of sustainable proteins that outcompete animal-based products on cost, taste, and convenience.

Joyful VC

Cultivated Biosciences

Cultivated Biosciences is a Food Production Company.

Cultivated Biosciences, founded in 2021, is a Swiss startup developing yeast-based ingredients for use in the production of plant-based dairy. According to the company, it uses non-GMO yeast in a fermentation process combined with sugar, with the end result being creamy yeast-based fat. The company claims this product has natural emulsification properties, low lipid oxidation, and a similar texture and color to that of dairy cream, along with better mouthfeel compared to other ingredients used in the market. This was expected to attract a larger flexitarian consumer base.

A booming food and beverage segment with a history as rich and varied as its present-day product offerings

Plant-based Dairy & Egg

Investment Climate Podcast: Tomas Turner of Cultivated Biosciences – How to Get Funded in 2024

Cultivated Biosciences, founded in 2021, is a Swiss startup developing yeast-based ingredients for use in the production of plant-based dairy. According to the company, it uses non-GMO yeast in a fermentation process combined with sugar, with the end result being creamy yeast-based fat. The company claims this product has natural emulsification properties, low lipid oxidation, and a similar texture and color to that of dairy cream, along with better mouthfeel compared to other ingredients used in the market. This was expected to attract a larger flexitarian consumer base.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24825">December 2023 </a>, the company unveiled a dairy-free coffee creamer prototype that uses yeast-based fermented fat. The product uses an oleaginous yeast strain that generates fat during growth, which is combined with plant protein, sugar, and natural flavorings to produce a creamy, white, and stable coffee additive.Key customers and partnershipsCultivated Biosciences is slated to begin product testing with selected clients for high-value savory applications in 2023 and stated they were open to further partnerships mainly from the Swiss gastronomy and European and US food tech sectors. The company is backed by several notable leading investors in the field and has won awards and grants in Switzerland and Europe.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27341">March 2024</a>, the company raised USD 5 million in seed funding led by Navus Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm. The funds were earmarked for accelerating the development of yeast cream and preparing for its US market launch, slated for 2025.

Eat JUST (Hampton Creek before 2018) is a food technology company that specializes in egg and meat alternatives. It has large-scale facilities in Germany and North America and in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9243">March 2022</a>, the company announced the groundbreaking of its new manufacturing facility in Singapore. It is the largest of its kind in the country post-completion and was slated to be completed in two years at a cost of USD 120 million.Launched in 2018, the company’s plant-based egg, JUST Egg, is made from mung beans and legumes. It offers an egg alternative for sweet and savory applications, including omelets, scrambled eggs, pancakes, and baked goods. In January 2020, the company announced a new folded plant-based egg, along with an upgrade to its original liquid plant-based egg. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9599">April 2022</a>, the company received exclusive regulatory approval from the European Commission for its mung bean protein, a key ingredient in its JUST Egg product. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30018">June 2024</a>, JUST Egg debuted the latest addition to its plant-based egg lineup, JUST Egg v5, featuring an improved formulation, taste, and texture.As of February 2024, JUST Egg had sold the equivalent of 500 million eggs and was available at food service outlets, online markets, and major retailers like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Walmart, Target, and Kroger.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10634">May 2022</a>, tennis pro Serena Williams and renowned actor Jake Gyllenhaal partnered with the company to appear in its national ad campaign “Really Good Eggs” to promote JUST Egg. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13770">October 2022</a>, the company partnered with MingsBings to launch four new vegan breakfast items featuring JUST Egg. Also, during the same month, JUST Egg <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13795">partnered</a> with Starbucks for a limited trial of new vegan menu items. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20178">July 2023</a>, the company partnered with Alpha Foods as a part of its brand portfolio renovation. Following this, JUST Egg <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21095">partnered</a> with Korean alternative meat company UNLIMEAT to develop Korean-style vegan products.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12427">August 2022</a>, the company bagged a USD 25 million investment along with a strategic partnership from Alibaba-Group-backed private equity firm, C2 Capital Partners. Together, the companies are set to work towards expanding Eat Just’s footprint in the Chinese market. Later, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21471">September 2023</a>, the company raised an undisclosed amount in new funding led by VegInvest/Ahimsa Foundation. The funding was to be deployed towards improving the quality and profitability of Eat JUST's products.

Eat JUST

Zero Egg is an Israel-based developer of egg alternatives in powder form using plant-based ingredients such as soy, potatoes, peas, and chickpeas. The startup initially launched two main products, the EGG Basic, a replacement for scrambled eggs and omelets, and BAKE Basic, an egg replacement for baking. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13217">September 2022 </a>, the company launched “Zero Egg Scoopable Scramble”, a ready-to-eat frozen plant-based scrambled egg product claimed to be the world’s first of its kind.The company initially only sold to foodservice customers and food manufacturers in 2 lb. bags of around 86 to 130 equivalent eggs. In October 2020, Zero Egg entered the US B2B market following a successful launch in the Netherlands and Israel. As of March 2024, the company’s products can also be purchased online in Patty and Liquid form.In 2021, the company announced that its product is co-manufactured in Cookeville, Tennessee, and would be distributed by Gordon Food Service in the US in 2021.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18573">May 2023 </a>, Zero Egg partnered with NYC’s Plantega to become the latter’s exclusive plant-based egg supplier. Plantega, based on a deli-in-store concept, featured Zero Egg’s new Egg Patty in its bodega-style breakfast sandwiches, available via all its outlets and food delivery platforms. The following month, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19335">partnered with The Friendly Toast </a>, a US restaurant chain, to launch the Vegan Zero Egg Breakfast Sandwich at all of its ten locations.Funding and financialsIn November 2020, the company raised USD 5 million in a Series A funding round led by Powerplant Ventures. The funding was earmarked for new product launches and expanding the company’s US footprint.

Zero Egg

Impossible Foods, a producer of plant-based meat products, demonstrated a prototype of its plant-based milk product in October 2020. The product has been under development by a five-member research and development (R&amp;D) team since 2015. The startup developed the milk alternative using plant-based ingredients, including a special de-flavored and deodorized soy protein. Impossible Foods claims its product tastes like cow’s milk and functions (froth, cook) like cow’s milk. Unlike soy or nut-based milk, the Impossible Foods milk alternative can be mixed with hot beverages without any precipitation.&nbsp;

Impossible Foods

Perfect Day produces animal-free dairy products using fermentation techniques. The startup uses microflora (microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, or in this case, fungi) to create the protein blocks of milk-casein and whey via fermentation, which is later combined with fat and water to produce genetically identical substitutes to animal milk. Perfect Day has developed the microflora to produce milk proteins with a similar genetic blueprint corresponding to casein and whey. The startup launched its first product in 2019, a limited line of animal-free ice cream. Perfect Day has also developed animal-free substitutes for cream cheese, feta, and cheese spreads, in addition to milk. Since its first funding round in December 2019, Perfect Day reported a doubling of production capacity while significantly reducing costs. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14938">November 2022</a>, the company launched its Very Dairy animal-free milk in Singapore which is claimed to be the first precision fermented milk to enter the Asian market. Following this, Perfect Day <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14989">acquired India’s Sterling Biotech Limited </a>at a value of 638 crore rupees (~USD 78 million). In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32960">August 2024</a>, 50% of Perfect Day’s stake in Sterling Biotech was acquired by Indian pharmaceutical company Zydus Lifesciences.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20068">July 2023</a>, Perfect Day exited its consumer-facing business, The Urgent Company (TUC), due to investor pressure and to shift its focus towards R&amp;D innovation, B2B partnerships, and its nth Bio precision fermentation consulting business. 15% of the workforce at TUC was laid off as a part of this move.Key customers and partnershipsThe company entered into partnerships with Tomorrow Farms in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10605">May 2022 </a>and Strive Nutrition in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10862">June 2022 </a>to supply fermented animal-free whey protein for the production of alternative milk. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11970">July 2022</a>, the company partnered with sports nutrition brand, Myprotein to launch a precision fermented Whey protein powder. The company partnered with global food and beverage leader, Nestle in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12953">September 2022 </a>to develop and trial an unnamed alternative milk beverage. Further, during the same month, the company unveiled its <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13187">enterprise biology business, “nth Bio”</a>, offering precision fermentation expertise and technology to companies worldwide and announced Onego Bio as its first partner in this new venture.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26920">February 2024</a>, Perfect Day partnered with Unilever-owned ice cream company Breyers, to supply precision-fermented whey protein for developing a lactose-free ice cream product.Funding and financialsIn its latest funding round in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25248">January 2024</a>, Perfect Day raised up to USD 90 million in pre-Series E funding led by its internal investors. The funding was earmarked for supporting Perfect Day's shift toward manufacturing on a larger scale and paving the path for the commercial release of its fermented whey protein product.

Perfect Day

Califia Farms uses almonds to produce a range of plant-based alternatives such as milk, cold-brew coffee, creamers, half-and-half, butter, and yogurt. In February 2019, the US-based startup launched Übermilk, a milk alternative made with oat milk, pea protein, sunflower oil and seeds, flaxseed oils, and other vitamins and minerals. Übermilk contains the same amount of calories, more protein (8 g), and less sugar (2 g) than a serving of cow’s milk.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14325">November 2022</a>, Califia Farms added plant-based whipping cream to its portfolio with the launch of Heavy Whip. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15601">January 2023</a>, the company added USDA-certified Organic Oatmilk and Almondmilk–made with only purified water, sea salt, and oats/almonds–to its alternative dairy products. Further, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26576">February 2024</a>, the company launched Califia Farms Complete, a plant-based milk claimed to be nutritionally comparable to dairy. It followed this up by launching ‘<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31054">Complete Kids</a>’, a kid-friendly version of its Complete plant-based milk.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31925">July 2024</a>, Califia Farms acquired Uproot Inc., a company developing plant milk dispenser systems for foodservice, for an undisclosed sum. With this acquisition, the company aimed to expand its "Away From Home" portfolio and offer plant milk in a convenient dispensing solution at hundreds of colleges, universities, and other dining locations.Califia Farms products are available in the US at Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts, and Target outlets.Funding and financialsIn January 2020, Califia Farms raised USD 225 million in Series D funding led by the Qatar Investment Authority to expand its production capacity, R&amp;D efforts, and geographical footprint.

Califia Farms

Producers of plant-based milk alternatives using ingredients such as almonds, cashews, soy, oats, coconuts, peas, etc.

Producers of plant-based cheese alternatives using ingredients such as coconuts, almonds, cashews, soy, hazelnuts, etc. Startups use their proprietary plant-based cultures for the fermentation process

Producers of plant-based butter alternatives using ingredients such as almonds, avocados, olive oil, etc.

Producers of dairy-free ice cream using plant-based milk

Producers of dairy-free yogurt using plant-based milk and cultures

Producers of plant-based egg alternatives for general consumption (used in baking and cooking) using pulses such as mung beans, peas, soy, chickpeas, etc.

Producers of non-dairy (such as plant-based, microflora, cultured, etc.) protein bases that are supplied to dairy alternative manufacturers to produce milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt alternatives

Provides sustainable solutions for dairy products and egg farming

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 Swiss biotech food startup, Cultivated Biosciences, secured a seed funding of USD 5 million from Navus Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm.
 The capital will predominantly be employed to expedite the startup's yeast cream development. The startup also intends to allocate part of the investment towards preparations for its anticipated US market debut in 2025.
 Cultivated Biosciences' dairy-free cream, produced through yeast biomass fermentation, is suitable for food and beverage applications. It is expected to be supplied to gastronomy and foodservice companies for utilization in their final products.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 This funding follows the firm's <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/12821"> USD 1.5 million </a> pre-seed round and the <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/24825"> unveiling </a> of its dairy-free creamer prototype. The company uses yeast biomass fermentation, which harnesses the high-protein content and rapid growth of microorganisms to develop protein-rich foods. This method differs from the commonly used precision fermentation that tries to replicate proteins on a molecular level.

Cultivated Biosciences

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless