Cultivated Biosciences has successfully closed a $5 million seed funding round
Source: The DairyNews
Swiss biotech food startup, Cultivated Biosciences, has successfully closed a $5 million seed funding round, signaling a significant step forward in its mission to redefine dairy alternatives. This funding boost will expedite the development of their yeast cream, a groundbreaking ingredient designed in collaboration with the food industry, and pave the way for a US market launch in 2025.
Despite recent growth in the dairy-free sector, traditional plant-based alternatives often fall short of replicating the authentic dairy experience, struggling to convince consumers due to additives, emulsifiers, and texturizers. Cultivated Biosciences aims to address these concerns by offering a sustainable and healthy solution through its patented yeast-derived cream. This crucial ingredient mimics the creaminess, functionality, and color of traditional dairy cream while enhancing the texture and stability of dairy-free products, eliminating the need for additives without compromising on taste, company writes.
The yeast cream, produced through yeast biomass fermentation, stands out as a non-GMO, cost-effective, and scalable method distinct from precision fermentation. Rather than attempting to replicate dairy cream at a molecular level, Cultivated Biosciences achieves functional and sensory parity, featuring fats, proteins, and fibers derived solely from yeast. The natural emulsion created mirrors the microstructure of milk fat droplets found in traditional dairy cream. Already validated in products like coffee creamers, milk, and ice cream, the yeast cream is set to be supplied to the gastronomy and food industry for integration into final consumer products.
Strategically attracting a group of investors, this funding round was led by Navus Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm committed to promoting sustainable food and energy systems. Cultivated Biosciences' CEO, Tomas Turner, expressed gratitude and optimism, stating, "This funding validates our innovative approach and enables us to introduce our revolutionary yeast cream to the market." The company aims not only to reduce CO2 emissions from dairy production but also to tap into a multi-billion dollar market opportunity by making alternative dairy products appealing to traditional dairy consumers.
With the focus now on scaling up production and collaborating with the food industry, Cultivated Biosciences is poised to introduce its pioneering yeast cream to consumer markets by 2025. Founded in Zurich in 2021, the company is transitioning from the research and development stage to the market entry phase, with plans for a US market debut in 2025 and a European market launch in 2026, pending regulatory approval.
The yeast cream, produced through yeast biomass fermentation, stands out as a non-GMO, cost-effective, and scalable method distinct from precision fermentation. Rather than attempting to replicate dairy cream at a molecular level, Cultivated Biosciences achieves functional and sensory parity, featuring fats, proteins, and fibers derived solely from yeast. The natural emulsion created mirrors the microstructure of milk fat droplets found in traditional dairy cream. Already validated in products like coffee creamers, milk, and ice cream, the yeast cream is set to be supplied to the gastronomy and food industry for integration into final consumer products.
Strategically attracting a group of investors, this funding round was led by Navus Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm committed to promoting sustainable food and energy systems. Cultivated Biosciences' CEO, Tomas Turner, expressed gratitude and optimism, stating, "This funding validates our innovative approach and enables us to introduce our revolutionary yeast cream to the market." The company aims not only to reduce CO2 emissions from dairy production but also to tap into a multi-billion dollar market opportunity by making alternative dairy products appealing to traditional dairy consumers.
With the focus now on scaling up production and collaborating with the food industry, Cultivated Biosciences is poised to introduce its pioneering yeast cream to consumer markets by 2025. Founded in Zurich in 2021, the company is transitioning from the research and development stage to the market entry phase, with plans for a US market debut in 2025 and a European market launch in 2026, pending regulatory approval.
