Celleste Bio Develops First Chocolate-Grade Cocoa Butter with Plant Cell Technology
Celleste Bio, a cocoa technology company, has announced the successful production of the first chocolate-grade cocoa butter made through plant cell culture technology, supporting its effort to build a more resilient and sustainable cocoa supply chain. Real cocoa butter, without the beans At the EIT Food‘s Next Bite Summit in Brussels, Belgium, Celleste introduced the innovative cocoa butter, which is chemically and functionally identical to cocoa butter derived from traditional …
Asterix Foods Raises $4.2M to Disrupt Protein Production with Affordable Plant Cell Technology
Asterix Foods, a food-tech startup based in Tel Aviv, has raised $4.2 million in a Seed funding round led by CPT Capital, with additional backing from ReGen Ventures, SOSV, Grok Ventures, and the Israeli Innovation Authority. The company, which emerged from stealth mode today, is focused on transforming the production of bioactive proteins, which are integral to the food and biotechnology sectors. Traditional protein production faces high costs The challenge …
Strauss Group Launches CowFree: Dairy Alternatives Crafted from Animal-Free BLG Protein
Strauss Group has introduced a new product line, CowFree, featuring dairy alternatives made with animal-free BLG protein, a protein identical in structure to one found in cow’s milk but produced through precision fermentation technology. This new range includes the Symphony cream cheese and Yotvata CowFree drink, both of which will be available in retail stores across Israel within the next few weeks. First of its kind in Israel Since the …
PoLoPo Announces Strategic Shift to Focus on High-Protein Potatoes for the Snack Industry
PoLoPo, a deeptech company developing high-protein potato varieties, has announced a strategic shift to focus on the snack industry. The company has created a patented potato variety with up to three times as much protein as conventional potatoes, allowing for the production of high-protein chips without the need for new processing lines or equipment. No added ingredients are required, since the proteins grow directly in the potatoes. PoLoPo claims the …
Novella Partners With Metaphor Foods to Commercialize Preservatives Made With Plant Cell Cultivation
Israeli biotech startup Novella Innovative Technology has partnered with Australian functional ingredient innovator Metaphor Foods to commercialize natural, clean-label preservatives made using plant cell cultivation. Novella uses plant cells to create pure compounds using novel, precision-controlled environmental technology. The company’s AuraCell™ platform enables the growth of zero-waste bioactive compounds with a guaranteed consistency, reportedly reducing resource use by 99%. Through the collaboration, AuraCell™ technology will be used to create natural …
Algocell Secures $2.8M in Pre-Seed Funding to Optimize Bioprocessing with AI
Algocell, an Israeli startup focused on AI-driven bioprocess optimization, has raised $2.8 million in pre-seed funding to advance its platform for accelerating the scale-up and efficiency of cell-based manufacturing. The funding round was led by Good Company VC (GCVC) and includes a non-dilutive grant from the Israel Innovation Authority, with participation from several angel investors with sector-specific expertise. AI-powered bioprocess optimization The startup, founded in 2023, specializes in developing an …
EFISHient Protein Develops Plant-Based Grouper Fillet Prototype Ahead of Cultivated Product
EFISHient Protein has introduced its first prototype of a plant-based grouper fillet, replicating the texture and structure of the widely consumed white fish. The product is formulated from plant-derived ingredients, designed for commercial preparation and distribution, offering an alternative to traditional seafood without impacting marine ecosystems. Bridging the gap The company’s development of the plant-based fillet serves as an interim step in its research and development pipeline while progressing toward …
Aleph Farms Accelerates Global Growth with $29M to Expand Production and Improve Efficiency
Israeli cultivated meat producer Aleph Farms has raised $29 million in a funding round to expand production capacity and implement a revised biomanufacturing process. The round includes $22 million through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and an additional $7 million from existing investors. The company expects to raise a further $10–15 million in the coming months as part of the same round. The capital will support the expansion …
Brevel Expands Seed Round to $25M to Accelerate Commercialization of Microalgae Proteins
Climate food tech company Brevel has secured over $5 million in a seed extension up-round, taking the total amount of seed funding it has raised to $25 million. The capital will be used to develop microalgae proteins for food and beverage applications and accelerate the commercialization of the company’s products. The extension is based on exercises of warrants investors were granted in the initial closing of the seed round in …
PoLoPo Expands Lab Capacity, Completes Successful Outdoor Field Trial of Protein-Producing Potatoes
PoLoPo, a company specializing in molecular farming, has announced two key developments: a successful field trial producing five tons of protein-rich potatoes and the expansion of its lab capabilities to meet growing demand for protein samples. The company’s trial, which exceeded initial expectations by yielding approximately five tons of potatoes—two tons more than anticipated—marks a significant milestone in its efforts to scale production of functional proteins. These potatoes are engineered …