The Israel Innovation Agency, the Innovation Authority, was established in 1965 as the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and was designed as a body that supports R & D conducted in the framework of government research institutes. Industrial development in order to increase industrial exports of high-tech products. The Chief Scientist focused on reducing the risk by participating in financing the project, which the private companies chose and led.

Israel Innovation Authority

Oxen9 support visionary founders and offer them a bridge – both financially and strategically – towards scaling up.  We identify companies with unique potential and breakthrough technologies, invest in them, and lead them hand-in-hand to the next stage.

OXen9

Asor Capital is a people-oriented supporting venture capital & holding company.  We work side-by-side with startups and middle-market companies to achieve success through our unique ''hands-on approach'' strategy and impactful fundraising methods.

Asor Capital

South Israel Bridging Fund is a venture capital firm.

South Israel Bridging Fund

Yemoja

Yemoja is an innovative company specializing in industrial, multi-species microalgae production. Our state of the art technology changes the concept of algaculture manufacturing. Thanks to our expertise and our unique patented technology, we are able to produce high quantities of products extracted from microalgae Our mission is to rely on our expertise to provide our clients with microalgae-derived high-value products, with the highest production standards and quality. The company is currently extending its industrial capacities, with the building of a larger facility, conceived as a GMP one.

Yemoja is a marine ingredient company based in Israel that specializes in producing advanced high-value polysaccharides from microalgae strains. The company uses a patented technology to cultivate customized microalgae on demand for various industries including cosmetics, personal healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yemoja's production facility employs a controlled indoor system that allows for the manipulation of light, pH, and temperature to yield high concentrations of desired bioactive compounds with minimal ecological impact.

About Us

Yemoja developing red microalgae meat alternative

Israel’s Yemoja Develops Red Microalgae To Make Meat-Free Burgers ‘Bleed’

Yemoja: "There is a Vast Ocean of Microalgae Species Not Yet Discovered"

Startup develops red microalgae for ‘bloody’ meat alternatives

Yemoja Uses Red Microalgae to Develop "Bleeding" Burgers

Red Microalgae Makes Veggie Burgers ‘Bleed’

Yemoja Announces the Opening of its Sustainable Microalgae Production Plant in Israel

Empowering sustainable food innovation through food engineering tech

Alternative Ingredients

Seaweed Based Alternative Meat Market Forecast Report 2025-2030, with Profiles of Umaro Foods, Algaia, KIMICA, The Seaweed Company and Yemoja

Yemoja is a marine ingredient company based in Israel that specializes in producing advanced high-value polysaccharides from microalgae strains. The company utilizes a patented technology to cultivate customized microalgae on demand for various industries including cosmetics, personal healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yemoja's production facility, located in the Upper Galilee region of Israel, employs a controlled indoor system that allows for the manipulation of light, pH, and temperature to yield high concentrations of desired bioactive compounds with minimal ecological impact.
One of Yemoja's key innovations is Ounje, a red microalgae formulation developed for use in plant-based and cultured meat products. Ounje mimics the appearance and texture of blood in meat, providing a natural alternative to artificial coloring agents. The ingredient not only provides an initial red pigment to raw plant-based meats but also browns and congeals like real meat juices when cooked. As of January 2022, Ounje contained a 20% to 30% protein load and a complete essential amino acid profile, offering nutritional benefits in addition to its visual and textural properties. Yemoja produces Ounje via a cold process without using organic solvents.
In addition to its work in the alternative protein sector, Yemoja continues to serve the nutraceutical and cosmetics B2B markets. The company's microalgae cultivation process allows for the production of standardized, contaminant-free compounds suitable for various applications. Yemoja's technology enables the cultivation of a wide range of microalgae species, with the potential to discover and commercialize new strains.

Yemoja is a marine ingredient company based in Israel that specializes in producing advanced high-value polysaccharides from microalgae strains. The company uses a patented technology to cultivate customized microalgae on demand for various industries including cosmetics, personal healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yemoja's production facility employs a controlled indoor system that allows for the manipulation of light, pH, and temperature to yield high concentrations of desired bioactive compounds with minimal ecological impact.The company's flagship product, Ounje, is a red microalgae extract that serves as a heme substitute for plant-based and cultivated meat products. Ounje mimics the appearance and behavior of blood in meat products, changing color from red to brown when cooked, and provides a gelatin-like viscosity that contributes to the meat-like texture. The product is derived from the Porphyridium strain of algae and contains 20%–30% protein with a complete amino acid profile, essential fatty acids, polyphenols, minerals, and vitamins.&nbsp;There are no direct competitors for Yemoja since it offers a unique product.

<div>
 
 California Cultured is a producer of cocoa products such as cocoa powder, chocolate, cocoa butter, and flavanols using plant cell culture technology by taking biopsies from selected cacao plants. The company developed its research based on Criollo cacao varieties, fine-tuning cell lines for specific flavors. In August 2022, the company announced that it was working on the development of cell-cultured coffee.
 
 
 As of December 2022, the company was building its 12,100 sq m facility in West Sacramento and had begun building its pilot plant. As of July 2023, the company was finalizing production methods, with the aim of a commercial launch by 2025&ndash;2026, following FDA approval.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In 2022, California Cultured partnered with VTT, a Finnish national research institute, to develop cell lines for cell-cultured coffee. 
 &nbsp;In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates">
 February 2023
 </a>
 , the company inked a 10-year commercial partnership with Japanese chocolate corporation Meiji to incorporate its cell-based cocoa into Meiji's products. This collaboration marked the first global use of cell-cultured chocolate.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 California Cultured received undisclosed investments from investment platforms focused on clean, lab-grown food such as CULT Food Science (February 2022) and Blue Horizon (March 2022). In October 2021, the company raised USD 4 million in seed funding led by Agronomics to expand its R&amp;D activities.
 
 
 
 .
 
</div>

California Cultured

Nukoko is a UK-based company that produces 100% cocoa-free chocolate peanuts made from locally sourced fava beans using a biotransformation and precision fermentation process. It also uses a microbial library of cocoa flavors to match chocolate in terms of flavor, thickness, and texture.As of October 2023, the company had opened a limited product launch and sold out the first batch of cocoa-free chocolate nuts, with a full launch planned for 2025 for the EU/UK markets as a B2B ingredients supplier. The company claims to produce 90% less carbon emission per kg than conventional chocolate&nbsp;and its chocolate alternatives contain 40% less sugar and higher protein, fiber, and antioxidants than traditional chocolate.&nbsp;

Nukoko

<div>
 
 Win-Win (WNWN Food Labs prior to 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27014">
 February 2024
 </a>
 ) is a London-based producer of cocoa-free chocolate using plant-based ingredients such as grains/cereals and legumes through a proprietary fermentation process. The company's cocoa-free chocolate can be used in candy bars, confectionery, cookies, chocolate coatings, ice cream, and beverages. It claims to use 90% less water and emit 80%&ndash;90% less greenhouse gases than regular chocolate.
 
 
 In May 2022, Win-Win was operating on a lab scale, capable of producing between 300kg and 600 kg (~661 and 1,323 lbs) of chocolate per month. In November 2022, the company began expanding its facility in Hackney Wick, increasing its production space 8x. In November 2023, the company expanded its plant-based milk chocolate to bakeries, foodservice, confectionery groups, and CPG/FMCG companies 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24144">
 worldwide
 </a>
 .
 
 
 The company had previously introduced limited-edition cocoa-free products via D2C channels: dark chocolate thins at GBP 10 (~USD 13) per box (May 2022) and the Waim! Bar priced at GBP 8 (~USD 9) for a pack of three bars (September 2022). In March 2023, the company finalized the recipe and process for a line of milk chocolate products that are cocoa- and dairy-free and contain both oats and tiger nuts. The company also experimented with an alternative chocolate ice cream bar at the H&auml;agen-Dazs Start-Up Innovation Challenge in June 2023.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In September 2023, Win-Win partnered with the UK department store Fortnum &amp; Mason to showcase its cocoa-free chocolate and technology, including a demonstration and tasting during Fortnum's Harvest Week. In December 2022, the company partnered with Milan-based luxury gift service DLISH to include its specialty chocolate hazelnut gianduja, a northern Italian confection, in DLISH's holiday gifts. In December 2023, the company completed the 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24805">
 CoLab Tech accelerator
 </a>
 with Mondelēz International and showcased its cocoa-free chocolate bars, truffles, and coated biscuits at Mondelēz's North American headquarters.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In February 2023, Win-Win raised GBP 4.5 million (~USD 5.6 million) in Series A funding to scale up manufacturing and increase headcount in anticipation of its UK retail launch.
 
 
 
</div>

Win-Win

<div>
 
 Planet A Foods is a Germany-based startup that makes cocoa-free chocolate ChoViva (formerly NoCoa/QOA) via precision fermentation of oats and sunflower seeds. It then uses proprietary micro-bacteria and flavor formation processes to create a vegan product that mimics the texture and flavor of chocolate. In addition to Germany, ChoViva focuses on Austria and Switzerland, with expansion plans to the US in 2024.
 
 
 Planet A Foods produces cocoa-free chocolates by blending cocoa-free ingredients: a cocoa powder substitute (ChoViva Concentrate) and a cocoa butter substitute (ChoViva Butter). ChoViva represents Planet Foods' debut cocoa-free chocolate product, created using Planet A Foods' cocoa concentrate alternative. The chocolate is produced in-house at Planet A&rsquo;s facility in the Czech Republic. As of October 2023, the ChoViva range included 21 products with prices ranging from EUR 0.5 to EUR 9.95 (~USD 0.53 to USD 10.48).
 
 
 Additionally, the company was in the process of developing its cocoa butter alternative through precision fermentation technology, using single-cell oils and fermentation byproducts. As of October 2023, the company was shipping this fat to early customers for R&amp;D purposes.
 
 
 The company asserts that its chocolate product could be 10x more sustainable, 20% cheaper, and emit about 92% less than conventional chocolate while also using 30% less sugar and 94% less water.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In April 2023, the company partnered with German online retailer Confiserie Seidl to launch ChoViva, its first sustainable chocolate line. The brand sees itself as a B2B player, after partnering with oat cereal maker K&ouml;lln on a new line of vegan mueslis using the company's cocoa-free chocolate in September 2023. In December 2023, ChoViva teamed up with 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24997">
 Lindt
 </a>
 to launch a special edition chocolate bar for Veganuary, named &quot;Soft &amp; Creamy Hazelnut.
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26955">
 February 2024
 </a>
 , Planet A Foods partnered with REWE Group, Germany&rsquo;s second-largest supermarket chain, to supply ChoViva for REWE Group&rsquo;s own-label cocoa-free products.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In its latest funding round in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26176">
 February 2024
 </a>
 , the company raised USD 15.4 million in Series A funding led by World Fund, with participation from Omnes Capital, Cherry Ventures, Nucleus Capital, and others. The funds were earmarked for additional scientist hires to bolster its 50-person team in Germany to increase the production of cocoa butter and palm oil alternatives on an industrial scale.
 
 
 
</div>

Planet A Foods

<div>
 
 Atomo Coffee is a developer of beanless coffee that comes in two flavors: 1) regular beanless coffee with 100 mg of caffeine per serving made from date seeds, ramon seeds, sunflower seed extract, pea protein, millet, lemon, guava, and defatted fenugreek seeds and 2) decaffeinated (decaf) beanless coffee. The company claims to be the world's first beanless coffee maker.
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s products are available for retail purchase at 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23234">
 Gumption Coffee
 </a>
 in New York. In addition, the company began taking pre-orders for wholesale at a price of USD 20.99 per pound (as of October 2023).
 
 
 The company also plans to open a facility in March 2024 that can annually produce four million lbs of ground coffee, made from upcycled date pits (~80 million cups).
 
 
 Atomo's brews reportedly use 94% less water and produce 93% less carbon emissions than traditional coffee.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In July 2022, the company partnered with Minor Figures, a vegan products company, to launch the 8-ounce canned Oat Milk Latte, a beanless cold brew, one of Atomo's first focus products.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In June 2022, the company raised USD 40 million in a Series A funding round for product development and to scale up manufacturing. In November 2023, the company secured an undisclosed multi-million dollar investment from Japanese beverage leader 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24577">
 Suntory Holdings
 </a>
 to strengthen its international distribution.
 
 
 
</div>

Atomo Coffee

Companies providing technology related to fortification, cell culture, and fermentation and those supplying equipment including bioreactors and fermenters for the production of novel foods

Companies offering salt substitutes to reduce sodium content in foods and beverages

Companies developing natural sweeteners and solutions to reduce sugar content in foods and beverages

Companies creating natural flavor, texture, and coloring ingredients from plant-based sources like seaweed and algae

Companies producing chocolate without cocoa using ingredients like oats, seeds, and cell-cultured cocoa

Companies making coffee substitutes from ingredients like barley, date seeds, and sunflower seeds

Companies offering plant-based alternatives to honey and nut spreads, addressing dietary restrictions and allergies

Companies producing cooking oils and fats through fermentation, cell-cultured and plant-based extraction processes

Companies developing protein ingredients via cell-culture or fermentation for dietary supplements and food production, excluding plant-based or cell-cultured meat

Transforms raw materials into novel, sustainable food products with minimal environmental impact

Yemoja

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless