Prefer Raises $4.2M in Oversubscribed Round, Launches Soluble Coffee & Cocoa Powders Made With Fermentation
Singapore-based food tech startup Prefer has secured US$4.2 million in an oversubscribed funding round. This brings the total amount raised by the company to US$6.2 million. The round was led by At One Ventures and Chancery Hill Capital, with participation from existing investor Forge Ventures. The news comes as Prefer announces the commercial launch of its new soluble coffee and cocoa powders, made using a proprietary precision fermentation process. Prefer’s …
Geltor Closes Equity Financing Round for Animal-Free Beauty Ingredients, Bringing Total Amount Raised to $137M
Geltor, a biodesign company developing sustainable, animal-free proteins for the beauty and wellness industries, has completed a new equity financing round that brings the total amount it has raised to $137 million. The round was co-led by iSelect Fund and included significant participation from existing investors. Following the raise, Geltor will make targeted investments in several areas, including expanding its biodesigned polypeptide portfolio to new regions, bringing new solutions to …
Study: Precision Fermentation-Derived Chicken Protein Has Beneficial Digestive Effects for Dogs
In a new study, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign partnered with Bond Pet Foods to examine the effects of chicken protein produced using precision fermentation on the digestive health of dogs. First, Bond’s R&D team identified proteins that are highly abundant in the muscle tissues of chickens, and determined their DNA sequences. The DNA was inserted into the genome of brewer’s yeast to express the chicken protein, which …
Mara Renewables Secures $9.1M for Fish-Free Omega-3 Made With Precision Fermentation
Mara Renewables, a biotechnology company developing algae-based solutions for human and animal nutrition, has secured USD$9.1 million from multi-stage investment firm S2G Investments. Mara will use the funding to expand its sustainable omega‑3 platform, increase its R&D capacity, and address critical gaps in global nutrition supply chains. The company has developed a fish-free alternative to conventional omega-3 supplements, using precision fermentation to help microalgae grow efficiently in controlled environments. The …
Former Henkel and JBT-Marel Executive Jan Agter Appointed as CEO of Mycoprotein Producer ENOUGH
Mycoprotein producer ENOUGH has announced that Jan Agter will assume the role of Interim CEO, succeeding co-founder Jim Laird. Agter is described as an experienced former executive at Henkel and JBT-Marel, and was most recently at Hooghoudt Distillers. He has over 25 years of experience as general manager in complex operations in an international setting. Laird will oversee the transition over the next six months, before moving to a non-executive …
Solar Foods Signs Letter of Intent Regarding Commercialization of Up to 1,650 Tonnes Per Year of Its Air-Based Protein, Solein
Finland’s Solar Foods has signed a Letter of Intent with a leading international brand in health and performance nutrition, with the aim of commercializing between 500 and 1,650 tonnes per year of its air-based protein, Solein, over the period 2026-2030. The Letter of Intent describes the companies’ intentions to collaborate on the development of products in the Health & Performance category, and outlines the fundamental principles of the planned collaboration. …
Danish Scientists Achieve Phosphorylation of Animal-Free Casein, Paving the Way for Better Dairy Alternatives
While several companies and research teams have now developed animal-free caseins using precision fermentation, an important part of the process has previously been missing. To be used in products such as cheese alternatives, caseins need to undergo a process called phosphorylation, where phosphate groups are added to them. This allows the caseins to bind to calcium compounds, forming particles called micelles. Previous attempts to achieve the phosphorylation of animal-free caseins …
Eclipse Ingredients Emerges From Stealth, Raising $7M AUD for Human Lactoferrin Made With Precision Fermentation
Australian biotech startup Eclipse Ingredients (not to be confused with US-based alt-dairy brand Eclipse Foods) has emerged from stealth after raising $7 million AUD in funding. Eclipse Ingredients aims to provide widespread access to previously inaccessible health ingredients, starting with human lactoferrin — a protein found throughout the body, including in breast milk and immune cells. The startup will achieve this with precision fermentation technology, using engineered yeast to sustainably …
Guest Post: Biomass vs. Precision Fermentation – Understanding the Technologies Reshaping Food Innovation
Nemailla Bonturi is a biotech entrepreneur and executive with over a decade of experience in applied microbiology, fermentation, and circular bioeconomy. As the co-founder and CEO of ÄIO, she is driving the company’s mission to transform agricultural and food industry side-streams into sustainable alternatives to palm oil, coconut oil, and animal fats. With a PhD from the University of Campinas (Brazil), Nemailla is passionate about climate-positive innovation and has been …
21st.BIO Develops New Method for Scalable, Animal-Free Production of Essential Dairy Protein
21st.BIO has introduced a new development program focused on producing bovine alpha-lactalbumin (α-lac) using precision fermentation technology. The company, a leader in industrial-scale fermentation, has secured an exclusive license for a high-yield microbial strain developed by Novonesis, a biosolutions company. Unlocking the potential of α-Lac Alpha-lactalbumin is a milk protein recognized for its nutritional value. It is particularly rich in essential amino acids and is easy to digest, which makes …