Yali Bio builds tailored fats for plant-based meat and dairy products using synthetic biology, deep learning and genomics tools to mimic animal fat flavor and texture. The company focuses on replacing common oils like coconut with purpose-designed microbial fats that reduce the need for flavor additives. Yali Bio uses a precision fermentation approach and is developing a proprietary microbial strain library and bioprocess to demonstrate production at pilot scale. Founders Yulin Lu (former Impossible Foods and Eat Just scaling lead) and Chief Scientist Peng Xu (synthetic biology and lipid production) lead product and technical development. The startup is building a new laboratory, running pilot fermentations, and pursuing business partnerships while expanding its team. It currently has seven employees and plans to grow to about 12 by year-end. Yali Bio has raised funding to support synthetic biology, product development, marketing and recruitment as it works toward tangible product samples over the next two to three years.

Total raised

$4M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Feb 2022