Exseed

ExSeed is a Bulgarian alternative ingredients startup, specializing in sunflower protein isolate. The company employs a circular economy approach, where it extracts sunflower protein from sunflower press cake, a byproduct of sunflower oil production. ExSeed claims its three-layer process offers advantages over traditional extraction methods, maximizing protein yield and converting non-protein parts into microbial protein.

ExSeed’s sunflower protein isolate is developed as an alternative to soy and pea protein and offers applications across various sectors, including plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, drinks, supplements, and fitness foods. It claims to be clean-label, nutritious, and non-allergenic, with a neutral taste and competitive pricing. As of June 2024, ExSeed operates on a small scale, producing a few kilograms of protein isolate per month in its laboratory. The startup plans to expand to a pilot scale, aiming to produce around 500 kg per month.