Ingrediome, founded in 2022, is developing recombinant animal matrix proteins to improve the texture and taste of alternative proteins by creating hybrid meat, dairy and eggs that combine animal proteins with plant ingredients. The company programs microorganisms to produce those proteins using carbon dioxide and natural sunlight in rooftop photobioreactors, a process the founders say can be up to 10x less expensive than precision fermentation. Ingrediome has engineered four of five target proteins and cultivated two of those proteins to 100 liters; it is currently scaling to about 300 liters per year with plans to reach 1,000 liters next and eventually 20,000 liters. The founders expect to be able to produce thousands of kilograms of meat per year by the end of 2025 or early 2026, though they acknowledge it will be at least two more years before they can manufacture enough product to sell to traditional meat companies. The company has signed an 18-month collaboration with a European ingredient company, a joint R&D agreement with an Israeli deli company, and holds a letter of intent toward another commercial partnership. Ingrediome has closed $2.46 million in funding to date to support engineering the fifth target protein and scale production.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Feb 2024