All-Female Investor Collective Supports New Zealand’s Opo Bio in Bio-Manufacturing Expansion
Epic Angels, the largest all-female investor collective globally, has joined a funding round for Opo Bio, a biotechnology startup based in New Zealand specializing in cell line manufacturing for cultivated meat and related sectors. The investment round is led by WNT Ventures, with contributions from Booster NZ, Inventors Fund, and subordinated funding through Callaghan Innovation. Founded by Olivia Ogilvie and Laura Domigan at the University of Auckland, Opo Bio develops …
Daisy Lab Announces Major Breakthrough in Production of Bovine Lactoferrin Through Precision Fermentation
New Zealand-based precision fermentation company Daisy Lab has announced a major milestone in its work to produce bovine lactoferrin. After just over a year of research, Daisy Lab says it can now produce multiple grams per litre of bovine lactoferrin in a yeast host. This reportedly opens the door to the commercial-scale production of bioidentical lactoferrin for applications such as infant formula, functional foods, supplements, and nutraceuticals. Lactoferrin is described …
Yeast Instead of Cows: Daisy Lab Obtains EPA Approval to Scale Whey Proteins
New Zealand’s precision fermentation biotech Daisy Lab announces that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved the expansion of its dairy protein platform to 5,000 L. The endorsement follows the successful production of animal-identical whey proteins in 10 L fermenters announced in January. Day Lab states that this approval marks another significant milestone in scaling and commercializing its technology, enabling it to construct a pilot facility. CSO and co-founder Dr. Nicole Freed highlights …
Jooules Secures NZ$1M to Transform CO2 into Complete Protein Ingredients
Jooules, a New Zealand startup that turns greenhouse gas emissions into protein ingredients, has secured NZ$1 million in a pre-seed round led by early-stage investor Sprout Agritech LP. David McLellan, a participant in the Sprout Accelerator program, founded Jooules to transform protein production with an animal and land-free process that delivers a climate-positive ingredient. A pioneer in New Zealand, the startup leverages cutting-edge science, gaseous fermentation, and specific microbe strains that …
Opo Bio Introduces Porcine Cell Range Sourced From New Zealand “High-Health Status” Livestock
Opo Bio, New Zealand’s first company to develop non-GM cell lines for the cultivated meat industry, has launched Opo-Oink, a porcine cell range for cultivated pork production. The initial selection of Opo-Oink includes primary cells from pigs, such as satellite cells, pre-adipocytes, and fibroblasts, sourced from local livestock with high-health status. “At Opo, we believe in ethical standards and traceability. That’s why all our animal donors are raised with utmost …
Miruku Secures $5M to Develop Proteins in Oilseed Crops for Dairy 2.0 Products
Miruku, a New Zealand startup developing novel dairy proteins and fats using molecular farming and oilseed crops, has raised $5 million (NZD8 million) in a pre-series A round to support its B2B model. Motion Capital led the round with the participation of previous seed investor Movac and new investors NZVC, Cultivate Ventures, and Icehouse Ventures. The funding brings the startup’s total investment to $7.4 million, having previously raised $2.4 million in an …
New Zealand’s Daisy Lab Successfully Scales Animal-Identical Whey Paving the Way for a New Dairy Industry
New Zealand’s Daisy Lab, a precision fermentation biotech, announces a scaling milestone: successfully manufacturing animal-identical whey proteins in 10 L fermenters. In addition, Daisy Lab says that it has established the complete production process to create a final product, a whey protein powder. Established in 2021 to produce novel dairy proteins, the female-founded startup has achieved remarkable progress in slightly over a year. The team discovered three whey protein expression systems …
Australia Closer to Approve Cultivated Meat: Food Standards Concludes Vow’s Cultivated Quail is Safe to Eat
Australia and New Zealand’s alt protein think tank Food Frontier announces that the cultivated meat company Vow is closer to receiving novel foods approval to produce and sell a cultivated quail product in both countries. Earlier this year, Vow became the first Australian cultivated meat company to apply for regulatory approval. And now, after months of scientific and safety assessment of the product and its manufacturing method, Food Standards Australia New Zealand …
NZ’s Opo Bio Emerges From Stealth With $1.5M Seed for Cultivated Meat Ingredients
Opo Bio, a New Zealand-based biotech startup developing what it refers to as next-gen cultivated meat ingredients to supply producers of cultivated meat, announces the launch of its first product, Opo-Moo, a primary bovine muscle cell line. Opo Bio concurrently announces a NZ$1.5 million Seed capital round led by Matū Karihi, syndicated with The University of Auckland Inventors’ Fund, Booster Innovation Fund, and angel investors. Cell lines supplier Opo Bio …
NZ: Daisy Lab Announces $1.5M Seed Round for Microbial Whey Protein
Daisy Lab, a New Zealand food tech startup developing proteins using precision fermentation, announces a $1.5 million seed round to scale up the company’s microbial whey protein production. The startup’s goal is to complete the round before the end of the year. Daisy Lab has recently made groundbreaking discoveries, establishing three whey protein expression systems –one of them with full IP rights– to produce whey proteins using microbial hosts, the …