Montreal Cell-Based Dairy Company Opalia Closes $3.2M Seed Round with Commercial Pilots Already Underway
Montreal-based Opalia has closed an initial $3.2 million CAD seed round to advance its cell-based milk platform, having already secured paid pre-commercial pilot agreements with several established dairy players before reaching market. The round was led by Nàdarra Ventures, with participation from Spring Capital, UCEED, and Anges Quebec, alongside existing backers Investissement Québec, Cycle Momentum, and BoxOne Ventures. Whole milk without the cow Opalia uses mammary cells cultivated in bioreactors …
Opalia Announces “First Ever” Commercial Supply Agreement for Cell-Based Dairy
Canadian cell-based dairy producer Opalia has announced a strategic commercial agreement with major dairy ingredient provider Hoogwegt. The deal is claimed to be the first ever commercial supply agreement for cell-based dairy, and will run for the next two years (2026-2027). The collaboration aims to create sustainable cell-based dairy products and showcase their versatility and global opportunity. Opalia’s proprietary cell-based dairy manufacturing technology will be combined with Hoogwegt’s expertise in …
Opalia Receives Investment from Dairy Supplier Hoogwegt Group for “Cow-Free” Cell-Based Milk
Opalia, previously BetterMilk, reportedly the only company developing cell-based milk in Canada, has secured CAD$2 million to accelerate the development of its first milk product and establish a commercial strategy. The financial round was led by the Netherlands-based Hoogwegt Group, the world’s largest independent supplier of dairy products and ingredients, operating since 1965 and with a presence in over 130 countries. Other investors including Ahimsa Foundation, Box One Ventures, Cycle Momentum, Kale United, …
Opalia’s Cell-Based Milk to Be Produced at Pre-Pilot Scale by 2024
Opalia’s cell-based milk could be produced at pre-pilot scale as early as 2024, according to investment platform CULT Food Science. The Canadian alt-dairy company is currently searching for suitable commercial partners to make this possible. The news comes just a few months after Opalia announced it had developed a non-animal-derived cell culture medium to replace fetal bovine serum (FBS). The new medium is more ethical, affordable, and consistent in quality …
Opalia’s Animal-Free Milk Closer to Launch After Removal of Fetal Bovine Serum
Opalia’s animal-free milk is now closer to commercialisation after the Canadian company replaced its cell culture medium, fetal bovine serum (FBS), with a non-animal-derived alternative. FBS comes from the placenta of pregnant cows, making it a controversial ingredient in products that are intended to be animal-free. The serum is also expensive, prone to contamination, and highly variable between batches. But now, Opalia has found a replacement substrate that is FDA-approved, …