Soylent produces functional foods and beverages marketed for health and environmental benefits. Launched in 2013 and based in Los Angeles, the company began with more than $3 million in crowdfunding. Its product lineup includes a nutritional drink, a powder, a bar, a coffee drink and a preparation kit and accessories. The company plans to use recent capital to expand product offerings and support entry into traditional retail and international markets. Soylent has raised a total of $74.5m to date, including a $50m Series B. Rob Rhinehart is Founder and CEO. Soylent produces a subscription liquid nutrition product made from a mix of carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, vitamins and other ingredients, marketed as a meal alternative. The company claims the drink can replace meals, though a16z noted it is currently "mostly" replacing unhealthy meals rather than acting as a full replacement. Soylent also sells core product components and specific ingredients for a DIY nutrition community. The business is already profitable, taking in "millions" of dollars per month in subscription revenues. Management plans to use new capital for long-term R&D focused on improving taste, introducing new products, and dramatically reducing the price per meal from the current $3 to a fraction of that. The stated mission is to disrupt Big Food by offering a cheaper, healthier subscription alternative to junk food. Founder Rob Rhinehart is referenced in the coverage and the company emphasizes its community of food and nutrition enthusiasts as a core asset. Soylent produces a meal-replacement drink formulated to fulfill a person's nutritional needs, containing carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins and dozens of vitamins. Founder Rob Rhinehart developed the formula after a personal experiment in which he lived exclusively on Soylent for 30 days and now consumes it for about 90% of his diet. The company is YC-backed and pivoted from wireless networking to focus on Soylent full-time. Soylent has about 50 beta testers and has received roughly $1.5M in pre-orders; it plans to ship version 1.0 in December and will release a full nutrient list then. Ingredients are individually tested by the FDA and EFSA and the product is currently manufactured in an NSF-certified Modesto factory, though the startup plans to bring manufacturing in-house and relocate to Los Angeles. They will use funding to support product development (including hiring a culinary director to improve taste and mouthfeel) and to establish in-house manufacturing; a week's supply is priced at about $65. Soylent develops a food-replacement product marketed as containing all the nutrients humans need to survive. Founder Rob Rhinehart has been living solely on Soylent for the past five months. The product is controversial: some view it as the future of nutrition while others strongly disagree. Soylent launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand distribution and reduce costs. The campaign far exceeded its initial goal, demonstrating strong public interest. The company positions itself as an alternative for people who skip meals or eat poorly due to time or apathy.

Total raised

$72M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

May 2017