Target Global is a prominent European technology investment firm with a significant presence in the venture capital landscape, boasting over €3 billion in assets under management.  The firm operates out of key tech hubs including London, Berlin, Tel Aviv, and Abu Dhabi, and has a rich portfolio featuring some of Europe's most successful tech companies such as Revolut, Auto1, Copper, Delivery Hero, Docplanner, and Rapyd. Founding and Growth Target Global was established in 2015 by Shmuel Chafets and Yaron Valler, who brought a wealth of experience from their tenure at Hasso Plattner Ventures. Their professional partnership dates back 15 years to their time at Giza Venture Capital, a trailblazer in Israel's investment ecosystem, where they honed their investment acumen and industry foresight. Investment Philosophy and Impact Target Global stands out in the European tech industry for its diverse team and its ability to identify and capitalize on unique opportunities. The firm's knack for recognizing potential in the early stages of Germany's tech economy led to the emergence of several unicorns in the 2010s. As the European tech industry evolves, Target Global remains at the forefront, seeking out innovative companies like Robovision, Saleor, and Finom. These recent investments reflect the firm's commitment to supporting cutting-edge technology and business models. Fundraising Successes Target Global's fundraising prowess is evident in its six investment funds, which have collectively raised significant capital. The funds range from Early Stage Funds, focusing on nascent startups, to Growth Funds that support more mature companies scaling their operations. The firm's co-investment strategy has led to over €1 billion in capital deployment across a diverse array of partnerships. Backing and Achievements With the backing of investors such as FERI, UBS, Allianz X, Mubadala, and Hermes GPE, Target Global has cemented its reputation as a trusted and successful investment firm. Its portfolio spans over 140 companies at various development stages, with a focus on those targeting trillion-dollar markets. Just a few of the many notable companies in the firm’s portfolio include: - Tarabut, MENA’s leading open banking platform, which was recently featured in Forbes Middle East’s list of Top 50 Fintech Companies. - Flo Health, an AI-driven women’s health product, which is the world’s top health and fitness app by downloads. - Robovision, an easy-to-use AI-driven computer vision platform for users to develop their own deep-learning-based solutions. - Enter, a German company that helps homeowners and businesses reduce their carbon footprint. Target Global's track record includes support for 15 unicorn companies, over 20 exits, and 7 IPOs, showcasing its ability to drive growth and success in the European tech ecosystem. The team, comprised of individuals with founder and operator backgrounds, continues to pursue exceptional opportunities to expand the firm's portfolio and influence. Target Global's journey from its inception to its current status as a key player in European venture capital is marked by strategic investments, a commitment to diversity, and a deep understanding of the tech industry's dynamics. With a clear vision for the future, Target Global is poised to continue its role in shaping the next wave of European tech giants.

Target Global

The Kitchen FoodTech Hub is a seed investor and a Technology Incubator focusing on FoodTech. It invests in 3-4 new FoodTech startups each year. During the incubation period the startups benefit from close support from The Kitchen's team and a large range of experts. The Kitchen was established in 2015 by the Strauss-Group, an international food company based in Israel and is a member of the Israeli Innovation Authority incubators' program.

The Kitchen - FoodTech Hub

ZORA Ventures backs Israel's leading scientists and founders designing deeptech B2B solutions to the world's most acute climate challenges. Our teams develop climate solutions innovations to be deployed by the world's largest companies across massive markets in order to ignite rapid change at unprecedented scale.  Our goal? Back a portfolio of best-in-class companies who will collectively offset or remove a cumulative gigaton of CO2e by 2040.

ZORA Ventures

PeakBridge is a highly networked, global impact VC that funds and connects the people, technology and processes that will shape the future of food. We invest in visionary pioneers, from early stage to Series A-B, with scalable, protectable climate and health-focused technologies. At their core: a deep commitment to disrupting our food system while driving positive impact.   Our team is spread across seven countries and includes pioneers of FoodTech investment and decades of deep Agri-Food operational and financial experience. Together, we create exceptional value for bold FoodTech entrepreneurs and investors.   A member of the Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity partnership, PeakBridge is also the only venture capital firm that is an official partner of the world’s largest Agri-Food innovation initiative, EIT Food.

PeakBridge

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

Tel-Aviv based investment firm, focused on the effective acceleration of disruptive New Protein technologies

Milk & Honey Ventures

Forsea Foods

Forsea is a cultivated meat company with proprietary, breakthrough technology to produce fish and seafood in a very similar way to nature.

Founded in 2021, Forsea Foods is an Israeli startup developing cell-cultured seafood using its patented organoid technology. This technology previously used in biology and medical research can grow as three-dimensional tissue structures in a similar manner, as they would grow inside the animal counterpart. According to the company, this method allows it to bypass the scaffolding stage and achieve higher-scale production at cost-effective prices. As its initial product, the company is focussing on developing cultivated freshwater eel but stated that organoid technology can be applied to develop cultivated beef, pork, and chicken as well. Forsea Foods planned to partner with local and global players to distribute its products.

Making meat sustainable over the long term

Cell-cultured Meat

Forsea Foods Develops First Cell-Cultivated Eel Prototype

Founded in 2021, Forsea Foods is an Israeli startup developing cell-cultured seafood using its patented organoid technology. This technology previously used in biology and medical research can grow as three-dimensional tissue structures in a similar manner, as they would grow inside the animal counterpart. According to the company, this method allows it to bypass the scaffolding stage and achieve higher-scale production at cost-effective prices. As its initial product, the company is focussing on developing cultivated freshwater eel but stated that organoid technology can be applied to develop cultivated beef, pork, and chicken as well. Forsea Foods planned to partner with local and global players to distribute its products.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25775">January 2024</a>, the company unveiled a prototype of a cell-cultivated freshwater eel similar to the traditional Japanese unagi eel. The company achieved working proof-of-concept for this product and claims it mimics the sensory qualities of real eel. Following this, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30140">June 2024</a>, Forsea held a tasting event in Tel Aviv to showcase its cultivated eel. The company plans to commercially launch this product by 2026.Funding and financialsForsea Foods was part of the Israeli startup incubator The Kitchen FoodTech Hub and received its initial investment from the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA) and the Strauss Group.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14057">October 2022</a>, the company raised USD 5.2 million in a seed funding round led by Target Global, with participation from The Kitchen Foodtech Hub, PeakBridge VC, and others. The funding was planned for the R&amp;D of its cultivated eel and other seafood products.

Mosa Meat is a Dutch cell-cultured meat startup founded by Dr. Mark Post of Maastricht University, and was the first-ever company to produce a lab-grown meat burger. The startup produces meat by growing myosatellite cells (muscle stem cells) extracted from an animal in a bioreactor fed with a nutrient-dense medium.The company replaced the fetal bovine serum (FBS) from its growth medium in July 2020, which led to an 88x cost reduction in its medium. As of March 2024, Mosa Meat operated the Center for Advanced Meat Production, Upscaling, and Sustainability (CAMPUS), a facility spanning over 79,000 sq ft that was designed to be expandable as demand grows.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21645">September 2023</a>, Mosa Meat became the first cultivated meat company to attain B Corp certification. The company also announced plans to apply for regulatory approval in countries worldwide. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21645">September 2023</a>, Mosa Meat became the first cultivated meat company to attain B Corp certification. The company also announced plans to apply for regulatory approval in countries worldwide. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31970">July 2024</a>, it conducted the first official tasting of its cultivated beef product, the Mosa Burger, in the Netherlands. This event gathered Dutch cattle farmers, food product developers, and industry representatives to collect expert feedback.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14175">November 2022</a>, Mosa Meat entered into an agreement with Singapore-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Esco Aster to commercialize its cultivated beef in Singapore. Further, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16845">March 2023</a>, the company partnered withNutreco to develop a cell feed supply chain that can expedite production and scalability while reducing cost.Funding and financialsIn its latest funding round in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28536">April 2024</a>, the company raised EUR 40 million (~USD 42.5 million) in an oversubscribed funding round co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and M Ventures, with participation from PHW Group, Invest-NL, LIOF, and LEF. The funds were earmarked for scaling production procedures, reducing production costs, and gearing up for commercialization.

Mosa Meat

SuperMeat is a cellular agriculture startup developing cultured chicken meat. The company uses chicken cells and claims to grow them in a culture medium free from antibiotics and contaminants to develop its products. SuperMeat also operates a test kitchen known as The Chicken. It is claimed to be the world’s first farm-to-fork facility where diners can observe the production of cultivated chicken.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21733">September 2023</a>, The Orthodox Union (OU) certified SuperMeat’s cultivated chicken as “kosher.” Further, the OU and SuperMeat will collaborate on establishing guidelines for the industry.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9319">March 2022</a>, SuperMeat signed an MoU with PHW to supply cultivated meat products including chicken, turkey, and duck to the European market. The company also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8997">partnered</a> with Ajinomoto to set up a joint venture to accelerate the commercialization of cultivated meat while focusing on developing a cost-competitive cell growth media.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11867">July 2022</a>, the company signed an MoU with Switzerland’s largest retail supermarket chain and leading meat manufacturer, Migros to expedite production and distribution of cultured meat at a commercial scale with a focus on European markets.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10945">June 2022</a> the company received grant funding from the Israel Innovation Authority to set up what claims to be the world's largest high throughput screening system for identification and optimization of cultured meat ingredients, supplemental inputs, and cellular scaffoldings for the production of cultivated meat.

SuperMeat

Uncommon (formerly HigherSteaks) is a UK-based cell-cultured meat startup that uses cellular agriculture to grow pork from animal cells. The company leverages cellular agriculture and in-house developed RNA technologies to cultivate meat and claims its technology eliminates the need for genetic engineering and growth media.In July 2020, the company unveiled the world's first lab-grown pork belly prototype and the second cell-based bacon (behind Mission Barns cell-based bacon unveiled in early 2020). The pork belly and the bacon were produced from a combination of cell-cultured muscle and plant-based proteins and fat. Uncommon plans to commercialize its cell-cultured meat by 2022-2025, pending regulatory approval.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19267">June 2023</a>, the company raised USD 30 million in Series A funding co-led by Balderton Capital and Lower Carbon Capital, with participation from Redalpine, East Alpha, and others. The funds were earmarked for the development of its innovative approach, expanding production, increasing the team, and initiating regulatory approvals.

Uncommon

Multus, a spin-off of SOSV’s IndieBio program, is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development of growth media solutions for cellular agriculture applications. Its portfolio includes serum-free FBS alternatives (Proliferum M and Proliferum LSR) and solutions that support cell adhesion (rh-Vitronectin) during the cultivation process.Multus leverages MediOp, a growth media formulation design platform, to develop its solutions. According to the company, this technology allows optimizing solutions using automated data analysis and insights. Multus also uses this platform to provide contract manufacturing services for custom formulation design and food-safe manufacturing compliant with ISO22000 to customers in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25572">January 2024</a>, the company unveiled what it claims to be the first large-scale production plant making serum-free growth media in the cultivated meat industry.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24911">December 2023</a>, the company partnered with New Wave Biotech, a bioprocess optimization software company, under a project funded through an Innovate UK Engineering Biology grant. Through this partnership, Multus planned to use New Wave Biotech’s AI software to optimize its process of developing precision-fermented ingredients for cell cultivation.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15702">January 2023</a>, the company raised GBP 7.9 million (~USD 9.6 million) in a funding round led by Mandi Ventures with participation from SOSV, Big Idea Ventures, and others. The funding from this round was earmarked for the development of its animal-free growth media production facility in London.

Multus

Based in Israel, Believer Meats (Future Meat Technologies prior to November 2022) develops hardware and cell lines for the manufacturing of cell-cultured meat, to commercialize its manufacturing hardware and techniques.Believer Meats uses fibroblast cells that can be triggered with small molecules to develop either fat or muscle cells. Fat and muscle cells are cultured in a unique bioreactor that removes the waste material from the media, allowing the company to recycle parts of the media to reduce feed media input by as much as 50%. The startup replaced FBS with molecules derived from Chinese hamster ovaries (CHO) to reduce production costs and plans to achieve price parity with animal counterparts.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12623">August 2022</a>, the company announced it has developed what it claims to be the world’s first cultivated lamb, using cell lines isolated from Awassi sheep.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15195">December 2022</a>, the company announced it has begun development of a 200,000 sq foot production facility in Wilson, North Carolina with an annual capacity of ~22 million lbs, which is claimed to be the largest cultivation facility in the world. Believer Meats plans to produce cultured chicken, pork, beef, and lamb for US, European, and Asian markets.Key customers and partnershipsIn March 2022, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9320">partnered</a> with Charoen Pokphand Foods to develop cultivated meat products for Asia.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17710">April 2023</a>, Believer Meats signed an MoU with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to collaborate on the development and commercialization of cultivated meat products. Further, ADM will offer its ingredient pantry and nutrition knowledge to enhance Believer's cell-cultivated meat process.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30520">June 2024,</a> Believer Meats partnered with Abu Dhabi’s AgriFood Growth &amp; Water Abundance (AGWA), to advance cultivated meat production in the MENA region.Funding and financialsIn its <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9252">latest funding round</a> in December 2021, the company raised USD 347 million in Series B funding, recording the largest investment in cell-cultured meat at the time. The round was co-led by ADM Ventures, while funds were to be used to accelerate its production plans in the US.

Believer Meats

Producers of cell-cultured seafood using cells extracted from fish. Startups have succeeded in developing prototypes of yellowtail and salmon

Producers of cell-cultured pork using cells extracted from animals. Startups have succeeded in developing prototypes of bacon and pork belly using cultured muscle and plant-based proteins and fat

Producers of cell-cultured beef using cells extracted from animals. Some producers in the industry are developing premium beef ranges such as Wagyu. Startups have only succeeded in developing prototypes in the minced form, with a few creating prototypes of (pieces of) steak using 3D bioprinters

Producers of cell-cultured chicken and duck using cells extracted from animals. Some producers in the industry are developing rare delicacies such as foie gras. Startups have only succeeded in developing products in the nugget form

Producers of growth media for cell-cultured meat production and ingredients for meat and meat analog (cell-cultured, plant-based) producers, which can include cell culture meat paste, culture fat, etc. Producers of growth media mainly focus on developing alternative growth media to FBS using plant-based or other sources

Developers of bioreactors and other technologies used in cell-cultured meat production. Industrial scaling and efficiency gains are key areas of interest for startups in the industry

Provide sustainable solutions for animal slaughter through the use of biotechnology

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 Forsea Foods, a company based in Israel that specializes in cell-cultured seafood, recently held their first taste test for its cultivated freshwater eel in an exclusive event in Tel Aviv. The event showcased Forsea's cell-cultured eel being used in a traditional Japanese dish called unagi kabayaki, along with other seafood dishes.
 The cell-cultured eel has been developed using a patented organoid technology and is expected to be commercially launched by 2026. This innovative technology allows fish cells to autonomously assemble into a three-dimensional tissue that resembles the natural growth found in live fish. This method bypasses the common scaffolding stage, which often heavily depends on expensive growth factors.&nbsp;
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Forsea Foods’ cultivated eel product has quickly advanced since its prototype unveiling in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/25775"> January 2024 </a> . The R&amp;D for this product was funded by the company’s <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/14057"> USD 5.2 million </a> seed round in October 2022.

Forsea Foods

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless