Participated · Seed · May 2022

Imagindairy is a Tel Aviv–based FoodTech startup that engineers animal-free dairy milk proteins via computational and molecular biology. Its technology enables production of a broad spectrum of dairy analogs, from raw milk to cheese, without involving animals. Imagindairy’s dairy proteins are described as non-GMO, cholesterol-free, and matching the flavor, texture, functionality, and nutritional value of cow-based counterparts. The company intends to use new funding to accelerate R&D and launch a range of real dairy products made without animals. It also plans to hire additional talent to support its expanding workforce. The company was co-founded by Tamir Tuller, PhD; Eyal Afergan, PhD; and Arie Abo, PhD. Imagindairy develops milk proteins identical to those from cows by feeding microorganisms rather than using cows, relying on a systems and synthetic biology platform. The company enables manufacturers to offer cow-free, sustainable milk and dairy products with the same nutritional values as dairy milk. It currently collaborates with dairy companies and offers a complete range of dairy-free proteins. Imagindairy plans to expand its facilities, increase its professional team, and boost R&D capacity. The company closed a $13M seed round to fund those initiatives. The business is led by co-founders Eyal Afergan, PhD (CEO) and Tamir Tuller, PhD (CSO), and is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Imagindairy develops nature-identical, animal-free dairy proteins (whey and casein) using a microflora-based precision fermentation process. Its proteins are formulated to match the flavor, texture, functionality, and nutrient profile of cow’s milk, including calcium, while being lactose-free and free of cholesterol and GMOs. The technology is designed for ready integration into existing dairy food production facilities, enabling makers to produce dairy-analog products that closely mimic animal-derived versions. The company positions its approach as reducing the environmental burden of dairy livestock. Imagindairy has publicly raised US$1.5M in seed funding and says it will soon enter an A-round. Co-founder and CEO Eyal Afergan, PhD, is quoted outlining the company’s vision to deliver primary dairy proteins without animals.

Led · Seed · Sep 2021

Orbisk offers a fully automated food-waste monitoring service for professional kitchens, enabling customers to reduce waste streams by up to 70%. The company collects waste data so kitchens can adapt and optimize food processes, saving thousands of kilos per year and tens of thousands of euros while improving net operating margins by roughly 2–5%. Orbisk plans to scale its operations internationally and further enhance its AI-driven technology to rapidly adapt to different cuisines. Under the project name “Binspector” it will develop dynamic AI models and consumption-prospecting algorithms to predict purchase needs and create a smart assistant for purchase planning. Founded in 2019 with support from StartLife, Orbisk aims to save over 100 million kilograms of food waste annually by 2025. CEO and founder Olaf van der Veen says the company will use the new funding to push its technology and impact to scale. Orbisk provides a plug-and-play food-waste monitor that uses a camera and AI to automatically recognize and register food being thrown away. The company says its system gives hospitality organizations a complete insight into their food waste and can help cut waste by about half. The monitor is ready for immediate use from day one and is installed in kitchens to track waste continuously. Orbisk plans to continue developing its product and to scale internationally. With new funding, the company aims to be deployed in a couple of hundred establishments by the end of the year. Financially, Orbisk completed a seed financing to support these growth and product-development plans.