We identify and support the most innovative European food startups and help them to thrive in the global market

Eatable Adventures

Cargill Ventures is a venture capital that invests in companies that works in different segments. Cargill Ventures is a wholly-owned venture investment group of Cargill, a privately-held company with operations in 59 countries and revenues of approximately $50 billion. It invests in early stage technology companies that enable commerce, innovation, and efficiencies and help to be a global provider of goods and services necessary for life, health, and growth. In business over 135 years, Cargill is a globally respected business leader. It takes a long-term perspective, and have the patience, and foresight to build sustainable business.

Cargill Ventures

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

TECH TRANSFER AGRIFOOD is a Venture Capital firm.

TECH TRANSFER AGRIFOOD

Cocuus

Cocuus works to create innovative and surprising culinary solutions every day. Cocuus technology introduces engineering and architecture in kitchens, giving the possibility of creating artistic culinary creations, turning dishes into a visual experience. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Cizur Menor, Navarra, Spain.

Cocuus is a Spanish biotechnology startup specializing in developing industrial solutions for alternative meats using advanced technologies such as 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and robotics.

A new wave of meat, fish, and poultry alternatives are driving this hyper-growth industry into the mainstream.

Plant-based Meat

Cocuus is a Spanish biotechnology startup specializing in developing industrial solutions for alternative meats using advanced technologies such as 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and robotics.

Making meat sustainable over the long term.

Cell-cultured Meat

Cocuus is a Spanish biotechnology startup specializing in developing industrial solutions for alternative meats using advanced technologies such as 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and robotics.The company’s Mimethica platform utilizes proprietary ingredients (bioinks) to develop food analogs that mimic real food (mimetic food). This includes plant- and cell-based alternatives and Softmimic, a technology that converts purees into dishes resembling real food.Key customers and partnershipsIn May 2023, Cocuus partnered with Foody’s, a Spanish plant-based company, to develop and commercialize industrial-scale 3D-bioprinted plant-based products. The partnership developed a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23277">vegan bacon </a>as its first product with plant-based prawns, salmon, octopus, foie gras, and tuna in the pipeline. The partnership also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19897">developed a 3D-bioprinted plant-based tripe </a>using a specially formulated hydrogel. The vegan tripe was not intended for commercialization and was developed to showcase the potential of 3D-bioprinting technology.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10965">June 2022 </a>, the company raised EUR 2.5 million (~USD 2.68 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by Big Idea Ventures with participation from Cargill Ventures, Eatable Adventures, and Tech Transfer UPV. Before the funding round, Cocuus was a participant in Eatable Adventures’ accelerator program, supported by the National Center for Technology and Food Safety (CNTA) and ICEX Spain Export and Investment.

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 LIVEKINDLY Collective (formerly known as Food United) produces plant-based meat alternatives through its brands LikeMeat, Fry Family, and Oumph!. The group offers a wide range of plant-based alternatives to burgers, sausages, nuggets, pulled BBQ chicken, and kebabs, made primarily of soy protein and other plant-based ingredients. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/3657">
 June 2021
 </a>
 , the company launched two flagship plant-based brands in China &ndash; Giggling Pig (Ge Ji Zhu) and Happy Chicken (Ha Pi Ji); the first brands to be created in-house by LIVEKINDLY Collective, which encompasses seven plant-based products including dumplings, mushroom-based dishes and a seasoned minced dish. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19881">
 July 2023
 </a>
 , the company launched the Oumph! Smash Burger. The product was targeted at food service and launched at over 80 Brodernas (a Swedish restaurant group) locations, with additional locations and retail expansion to follow.
 
 
 In June 2021, LIVEKINDLY Collective entered into an agreement to acquire The Dutch Weed Burger, a plant-based meat company based in the Netherlands. This acquisition was expected to expand LIVEKINDLY&rsquo;s brand portfolio and extend the company&rsquo;s international footprint into more than 40 countries including the US, Canada, Asia, Europe, and the UK.&nbsp;
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20574">
 August 2023
 </a>
 , the company acquired Alpha Foods, a California-based plant-based frozen food producer. The acquisition supported Livekindly Collective&rsquo;s plans to expand its presence in the US market and venture into the ready-to-eat breakfast and burrito snacking category. Moreover, it was expected to strengthen Livekindly&rsquo;s position in the global plant-based market and enable further growth and innovation within the industry.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In February 2021, the group formed a partnership with the Dutch plant-based food company Rival Foods to develop whole-cut plant-based chicken products. Also in February, LIVEKINDLY Collective formed two joint ventures with US plant-based food company Puris Foods (undisclosed terms) to invest in regenerative agriculture and cost-effective plant-based food production. The companies claim this joint venture&rsquo;s sustainability approach will result in a long-term achievement of cost parity with conventional animal meat.&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In its latest funding round in March 2021, the startup raised USD 200 million led by Rise Fund with participation from existing investors Rabo Corporate Investments and S2G Ventures. The funds were earmarked for international expansions, new acquisitions and partnerships, and new product investments.
 
 
 
</div>

LIVEKINDLY

NotCo is a Chilean startup that develops plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. Leveraging a patented AI algorithm named Giuseppe, NotCo develops plant-based products that match the taste, texture, and mouthfeel of animal products by studying infinite combinations of plants and using internal feedback from trained chefs.NotCo’s product portfolio includes NotChicken (patties, nuggets, and tenders) and NotBurger, which are available for retail and foodservice in the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10672">Australia</a>, and Colombia.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28580">April 2024</a>, NotCo developed a plant-based turtle soup called "NotTurtle Soup" in partnership with Chef Diego Oka. NotTurtle Soup claims to mimic the flavor and texture of authentic turtle soup to reduce the consumption of endangered green sea turtles.Key customers and partnershipsIn February 2022, NotCo<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8673"> teamed up </a>with Kraft-Heinz to form a joint venture (JV) to leverage the strengths of both companies and develop a line of plant-based food. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27345">March 2024</a>, the JV announced plans to launch NotHotDog and NotSausages in partnership with Oscar Mayer, a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23368">November 2023</a>, the company partnered with Yellowbird Sauce, a hot sauce producer, to launch NotChicken Spicy Patties at select Whole Foods Market locations across the US.Funding and financialsIn its most recent funding round in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15270">December 2022</a>, the company raised USD 70 million in a Series D1 funding at a valuation of USD 1.5 billion led by Princeville Capital, with participation from existing and new investors. The funding was earmarked for developing a B2B platform that will allow other producers to access the company’s patented AI platform Giuseppe. Further, it is expected to help with expansion and preparation before the company’s planned IPO in 2025.

NotCo

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 Improved Nature produces plant-based chicken alternatives from soy protein, replicating the flavor and texture of real chicken. The company sells its plant-based meat products under Nature's PRIME and Nature&rsquo;s Meat brands, which cover a large line of refrigerated and frozen products like slices, nuggets, filets, tenders, and more.
 
 
 Improved Nature's reliance on soy protein makes it more similar to the original wave of plant-based meat producers which relied almost exclusively on soy to produce products for vegetarians, with less interest in mimicking the texture, taste, and mouthfeel of real meat products.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 I
 n 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23085">
 October 2023
 </a>
 , the company partnered with RMS Foods, a US food manufacturer, to provide soy protein-based clean-label alternatives to private-label brands at a value price. In addition, the company launched a new line of heat-and-serve meals, including options such as plant-based sausage patties, nuggets, and beefless Korean bulgogi.&nbsp;
 
 
 
</div>

Improved Nature

Impossible Foods produces plant-based meat products using plant protein and high-moisture extrusion cooking techniques to transform soy protein into a texture similar to that of meat. Its portfolio includes plant-based beef, sausage, chicken, pork, meatballs, and ready meals.The company has added several products to its portfolio since launching, including <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12539">Impossible Chicken Patty</a>, a new range of <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12760">frozen meals</a>, new <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16551">plant-based chicken products</a> (Impossible Spicy Chicken Nuggets, Impossible Spicy Chicken Patties, and Impossible Chicken Tenders), the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19591">Impossible Indulgent Burger</a>, and the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24643">Impossible Beef Hot Dog</a>.In July 2019, Impossible Foods gained FDA approval to use “Heme”, allowing the company to sell uncooked plant-based burgers at retail outlets as opposed to only selling cooked burgers at foodservice outlets. Further, in<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23732"> November 2023</a>, the company<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23732"> received</a> the heart-check certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) for its Impossible Beef Lite.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8934">March 2022</a>, Kroger announced a co-branding partnership with Impossible Foods to develop meat alternatives for Kroger’s private label business, thereby expanding its customer base to include more price sensitive customers. Impossible Foods <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13931">partnered</a> with Dominos Pizza Australia in October 2022 to launch a new range of plant-based pizzas featuring Impossible Beef. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22210">September 2023</a>, the company partnered with the American restaurant chain International House of Pancakes (IHOP) to introduce plant-based sausage patties and burgers to IHOP's menus nationwide. Further, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26436">February 2024</a>, Impossible Foods inked a partnership with the US Army Central to serve plant-based meats at their dining facilities overseas.Funding and financialsIn its latest funding round in November 2021, the startup raised USD 500 million in a venture funding round led by Mirae Asset Global Investments, with participation from returning investors. The latest funding is expected to fuel continued retail expansion, growth across its supply chain, product portfolio, technology platforms, and international expansion.

Impossible Foods

Planted Foods is a plant-based spinoff of ETH Zurich- a public research university in Switzerland. Its portfolio includes Planted brand chicken, pulled, kebab, bratwurst, schnitzel, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22375">duck</a>, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25317">ham</a>.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27493">March 2024</a>, the company launched a new fermented steak alternative developed using its proprietary whole-muscle platform. This platform uses a proprietary fermentation process to develop clean-label alternatives with improved taste and texture. Planted Foods intends to use this platform to expand its product range with more product concepts later. Further, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28147">April 2024</a>, Planted launched vegan Chicken Tikka Skewers in the UK.As of December 2023, Planted products were available at 6,100 restaurants and 8,700 retail outlets across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the UK, and Benelux, with plans to expand into the US and UAE later.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19434">June 2023</a>, the company partnered with French agrifood company Fleury Michon to launch the Eminces Vegetaux range into retail in France. The partnership leveraged Planted's expertise in plant-based foods and Fleury Michon's artisanal marinades, reach, and reputation to offer plant-based alternatives for Fleury Michon’s established consumer base.Funding and financialsIn its latest funding round in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates">September 2022</a>, the company raised ~USD 72 million (CHF 70 million) in Series B funding led by L Catterton, with participation from Vorwerk Ventures, Movendo, and Yann Summer. The funds were earmarked for launching a new whole-cut product range, further expansion into Europe, and increasing production capacity.

Planted Foods

Provides sustainable alternatives to animal meat

Suppliers of plant ingredients such as legume, mycelia and other proteins for the production of plant-based meat, fish, poultry and pork products; and suppliers of technology related to production of plant-based meat.

Cocuus is a Spanish biotechnology startup specializing in developing industrial solutions for alternative meats using advanced technologies such as 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and robotics.The company’s Mimethica platform utilizes proprietary ingredients (bioinks) to develop food analogs that mimic real food (mimetic food). This includes plant- and cell-based alternatives and Softmimic, a technology that converts purees into dishes resembling real food.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10965">June 2022 </a>, the company raised EUR 2.5 million (~USD 2.68 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by Big Idea Ventures with participation from Cargill Ventures, Eatable Adventures, and Tech Transfer UPV. Before the funding round, Cocuus was a participant in Eatable Adventures’ accelerator program, supported by the National Center for Technology and Food Safety (CNTA) and ICEX Spain Export and Investment.

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.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

Eat JUST (known as Hampton Creek prior to 2018) is a food technology company that develops and sells cultivated meat products under the “GOOD Meat” brand. In December 2020, Eat JUST received approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for its cultivated chicken product and became the first ever cell-cultured meat company to commercially sell cultivated meats. GOOD Meat also received regulatory approval from the SFA for the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15768">use of serum-free media</a> in the production of cultivated meat and was among the first two companies to receive a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17221">“no questions” letter</a> from the FDA and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19588">USDA clearance</a> for the sale of cultivated chicken in the US.The company expects to reach price parity with conventional meats by 2027 and has production facilities in Germany, the US, and Singapore. The US facility can produce up to 50,000 lbs of finished products annually, while the Singapore facility, located in JTC Bedok Food City, houses Asia’s largest bioreactor for cultivated meat production.Key customers and partnershipsEat JUST partnered with several hawker food stalls in Singapore, including <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8755">Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice</a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10542">Kee Eng Kee</a> (KEK) to sell its cultivated meats. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10516">May 2022</a>, the company partnered with multinational food processing company Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to develop a low-cost growth media with ADM to leverage its expertise and technology in optimizing GOOD Meat’s existing nutrient mix. It also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10724">partnered</a> with ABEC to build a large-scale commercial facility.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 toward 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

SciFi Foods (previously Artemys Foods) is a start-up developing cell-cultured beef. The startup uses pluripotent stem cells that differentiate into muscle or fat cells, which it separates into different bioreactors to cultivate. The company plans to launch a hybrid burger made from a blend of plant-based and cell-cultured meat by 2025, pending regulatory approval. Due to complexities in mimicking the texture of beef burgers, it intends to supplant its cultivated burgers with plant-based proteins.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11598">July 2022</a>, the company announced a breakthrough in R&amp;D which allowed them to grow beef cells in single-cell line suspension leading to a reduction in cost by more than thousand fold. The company expects to reach price parity following this milestone.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26100">January 2024</a>, SciFi Foods completed its first large-scale production of its hybrid beef product and plans to commercialize it next year after regulatory approval.Key customers and partnershipsIn<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13063"> September 2022</a>, the company partnered with Michigan State University to finalize the development and test scaling of its hybrid beef burger.Funding and financialsIn<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10966"> June 2022</a>, the company raised USD 22 million in a Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz(a16z). The funds were earmarked for scaling up R&amp;D, attracting new hires, and marketing strategy expenses.

SCiFi Foods

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.&nbsp;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

Provide sustainable solutions for animal slaughter through the use of biotechnology

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

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

Cocuus

Plant-based Meat

Key stats

EDGE Insights

FoodTech (Q4 2023): Spicing up for Veganuary in a tough market stew

FoodTech (Q3 2023): Cell-cultured meat arrives in the US; plant-based counterparts continue to struggle

Recent Updates

Debut product from Cocuus and Foody’s partnership arrives at Carrefour

Cocuus partners with Foody’s to develop 3D-printed plant-based tripe

Cocuus partners with Foody’s to develop 3D-printed plant-based tripe

Cocuus debuts its 3D printing technology “Mimethica”

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