Big Idea Ventures

MeatOSys equips farmers with technology and supplies to cultivate meat on their farms, using cells harvested from their own animals, ensuring full traceability. This process increases meat production while reducing animal usage. The company also supplies the food industry with the resulting cultivated meat.

Alcheme Bio is a biotechnology company specializing in enhancing the flavor and sensory experience of alternative proteins. It uses data-driven formulation tools and proprietary molecular insights to bioengineer media supplements that enable cells to express their own natural flavors, making cultivated foods more appealing to consumers.

Innocent Meat is a company that provides an automated, end-to-end clean meat production system aimed at helping food processors transition away from traditional animal agriculture. The business offers a comprehensive plug-and-play solution that includes growth media, cell lines, and scaffolding, as well as essential manufacturing hardware such as bioreactors and filtration systems. This integrated approach enables meat producers to efficiently manage the production of cell-based meat, ensuring safety and effectiveness in the process. Through its innovative technologies, Innocent Meat supports the shift towards sustainable food production by facilitating the adoption of clean meat alternatives.

Naturannova is a company focused on advancing food technology through the discovery and development of plant-based protein flavors and ingredients. By integrating computational biology with biomanufacturing processes, Naturannova aims to create innovative and sustainable food solutions. Its computational platform is designed to identify proteins from plant sources, enabling food and beverage manufacturers to streamline their development processes. This approach not only reduces time and costs but also supports healthier consumer choices by providing access to next-generation ingredients that promote well-being.

Future Cow is a Brazilian startup specializing in cellular agriculture, focusing on the development of innovative technology to produce dairy milk without the use of cows. By employing precision fermentation techniques, Future Cow replicates the molecular proteins found in traditional dairy, using only a digitized version of cow genes and no animal cells. This process results in animal-free milk that is molecularly identical to conventional dairy while significantly reducing environmental impacts. The company aims to address concerns related to animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional dairy farming. Future Cow's approach represents a significant advancement in food technology, offering consumers a more sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional dairy products.

The VERY Food Co is a French startup dedicated to transforming the way we eat and cook for a more sustainable future. It offers natural, affordable, ready-to-use plant-based ingredients that replace dairy and eggs, enabling food industry professionals to adopt sustainable practices without compromising functionality or taste.

Multus is a London-based company established in 2019 that specializes in providing tailored growth media solutions for the cultivated meat industry. By utilizing a machine learning-based approach, Multus develops completely animal-free growth media designed specifically for the efficient growth of animal cells. This innovative technology enables cultivated meat companies to scale their production affordably and sustainably, allowing them to focus on creating delicious and environmentally friendly meat alternatives. Additionally, Multus optimizes a variety of growth factor proteins produced by genetically engineered microorganisms, thereby eliminating the reliance on traditional animal serum-based media. Through its efforts, Multus aims to address the diverse needs of various animal cell types and tissues, facilitating the growth of the cultivated meat sector while significantly reducing the environmental and economic impacts associated with conventional meat production.

Niskus Biotec specializes in producing food ingredients that enhance the sustainability, supply chain security, and functionality of various products. The company focuses on developing functional, protein-rich ingredients suitable for a wide range of food and beverage applications, aimed at improving nutrition, taste, and texture. Niskus Biotec collaborates with agri-food companies to facilitate the development and implementation of scaled-up manufacturing processes, utilizing specially designed solid-state fermenters. This flexible, staged approach allows businesses to effectively integrate these innovative ingredients into their offerings.

Mogale Meat Co. is a privately incorporated limited liability company developing real meat products from southern Africa’s prized wild antelope, poultry and free-roaming livestock, using advanced cellular agriculture technologies. The company is focused on developing a vertically integrated pro-diversity food technology platform to make healthy and nutritious cell-cultivated meat accessible to Africa's rapidly growing population and export to global markets. Mogale is Managing Partner of MeatOurFuture – an XPRIZE "Feed the Next Billion" semi-finalist.

Novel Farms, Inc. is a Berkeley, California-based company founded in 2020 that specializes in the production of cell-based meat delicacies. It focuses on developing cruelty-free, low-cost, and tunable bioscaffolds through microbial fermentation and proprietary tissue engineering technology. The company's mission is to create gourmet meat alternatives that replicate the taste and texture of conventional meats, appealing to a new generation of conscious consumers. By producing whole-muscle cuts of cultivated meat, Novel Farms aims to make synthetic meat-based delicacies accessible and desirable, transforming the consumption of cell-based meat into a sought-after culinary experience.

Karana is a Singapore-based company that specializes in producing plant-based meat alternatives using jackfruit. Founded in 2018, the company transforms this underutilized supercrop into versatile products such as dumplings and baos, designed for both chefs and home cooks. Karana's mission is to promote sustainable food systems by utilizing regenerative agriculture practices that support smallholder farmers and reduce waste. By deploying proprietary technology throughout its value chain, the company aims to increase the widespread use of jackfruit in various food applications, fostering a shift from industrial monoculture farming to a more equitable and decentralized model. This approach not only helps create nutritious culinary experiences but also contributes to environmental sustainability.

FoodSquared is a B2B food tech company that enables the next generation of plant-based shellfish starting with shrimp.

Mewery specializes in cultivating pork meat using proprietary bioreactors that grow pork cells on microalgae-based media. This process takes around six to seven weeks and significantly reduces land use, water consumption, and carbon emissions compared to traditional farming methods.

The Mushroom Meat Co. is a B2B food technology company that develops animal-free, mushroom-based meat alternatives and clean-label ingredients for meat-style applications. Through a proprietary and tunable platform, it produces a range of products such as beefless patties, porkless shreds and beefless shreds, often integrated with gourmet mushrooms and upcycled plant proteins, and it can create customized shapes and flavors. The products are gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, paleo-friendly and free of the top-12 allergens, enabling vegan, paleo and allergen-free menus with meaty textures and flavors.

MeliBio, Inc. is a technology-driven company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2020 by Aaron M. Schaller, PhD, and Darko Mandich. The company specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as a molecularly identical alternative to traditional honey. By employing advancements in plant biology, precision fermentation, and synthetic biology, MeliBio creates honey without the involvement of bees, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of commercial bee farming on biodiversity. In 2023, MeliBio launched its consumer-facing brand, Mellody, further expanding its market presence. Recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2021, MeliBio is committed to providing sustainable and innovative solutions in the food industry.

Cellcraft is a Cambridge-based B2B cultivated meat company building a scalable manufacturing platform for cultured meat. It combines AI-driven software, advanced technologies, and targeted raw materials to help food producers locally manufacture cultivated meats more sustainably. The company applies tissue engineering and biomimetic systems to harvest animal cells in controlled environments, enabling commercial-scale production of cultured meats tailored to local tastes and specifications. By enabling local production, Cellcraft addresses global food security and sustainability challenges and aims to democratize access to sustainable protein.

Umami United is a Japanese-inspired plant-based food brand focused on enriching the alternative protein market with unique and innovative ingredients. The company specializes in creating products that deliver intense umami flavor, appealing to both vegan consumers and those seeking healthier food options. Its flagship product, UMAMI Egg, is formulated primarily from konjac powder, showcasing the brand's commitment to leveraging Japanese culinary traditions and technology to develop its offerings. By providing plant-based alternatives to traditional eggs and meat, Umami United aims to broaden choices for the growing vegan population while promoting a flavorful and nutritious diet.

Optimized Foods specializes in developing sustainable food ingredients. They focus on cell-cultured caviar production using proprietary mycelium scaffolds and cell biology techniques.

CF Foods Group, founded in 2021, specializes in the development of alternative proteins for the agribusiness sector. The company focuses on lab-grown meat production, offering a range of cell-cultivated proteins that include beef, pork, chicken, duck, turkey, and quail. By leveraging advanced technology and scientific research, CF Foods Group aims to optimize the production of meat alternatives, enabling clients to create innovative plant-based products. The company's commitment to preserving nature while advancing food technology positions it as a forward-thinking player in the evolving food industry.

Mogale Meat Co. is a privately incorporated limited liability company developing real meat products from southern Africa’s prized wild antelope, poultry and free-roaming livestock, using advanced cellular agriculture technologies. The company is focused on developing a vertically integrated pro-diversity food technology platform to make healthy and nutritious cell-cultivated meat accessible to Africa's rapidly growing population and export to global markets. Mogale is Managing Partner of MeatOurFuture – an XPRIZE "Feed the Next Billion" semi-finalist.

Alt Atlas develops an AI-driven digital manufacturing platform linked to cell lines and smart tools. This enables faster, cost-effective production in the cultivated meat and biotech sectors. The company offers novel non-GMO cell lines and customized AI-based services for cultivated meat producers.

Maya Milk, established in 2021 with its headquarters in Izmir, Turkey, specializes in precision fermentation technology to create animal-free dairy proteins and fatty acids. The company aims to serve the food and dairy industry by producing vegan alternatives that mimic the structure and functionality of animal-derived counterparts, enabling customers to enhance their alternative dairy products.

Cellcraft is a Cambridge-based B2B cultivated meat company building a scalable manufacturing platform for cultured meat. It combines AI-driven software, advanced technologies, and targeted raw materials to help food producers locally manufacture cultivated meats more sustainably. The company applies tissue engineering and biomimetic systems to harvest animal cells in controlled environments, enabling commercial-scale production of cultured meats tailored to local tastes and specifications. By enabling local production, Cellcraft addresses global food security and sustainability challenges and aims to democratize access to sustainable protein.

Gathered Foods Corporation, operating under the brand name Good Catch, specializes in the development, production, and sale of plant-based seafood alternatives in the United States. Founded in 2016 and based in Heath, Ohio, the company offers a variety of products, including plant-based tuna, frozen entrées, and appetizers, all crafted from a unique blend of six legumes—peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans, and navy beans—alongside seaweed and algae extract to enhance flavor. These products are designed to replicate the taste and experience of traditional seafood while being free from dairy, gluten, and GMOs, providing a cruelty-free option for consumers seeking alternatives to seafood. Gathered Foods sells its products through both retail stores and online channels, catering to a growing market of health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers.

MeliBio, Inc. is a technology-driven company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2020 by Aaron M. Schaller, PhD, and Darko Mandich. The company specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as a molecularly identical alternative to traditional honey. By employing advancements in plant biology, precision fermentation, and synthetic biology, MeliBio creates honey without the involvement of bees, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of commercial bee farming on biodiversity. In 2023, MeliBio launched its consumer-facing brand, Mellody, further expanding its market presence. Recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2021, MeliBio is committed to providing sustainable and innovative solutions in the food industry.

Blue Ridge Bantam is a pioneering cultured meat company based in the South, specializing in turkey, which is recognized as America's original source of protein. The company focuses on advancing avian cell-based technology with the aim of facilitating a shift towards meat products that are not only healthy and flavorful but also sustainable. Blue Ridge Bantam utilizes a biotechnology approach to produce cell-based poultry meat by harvesting tissue and fat cells from animals and cultivating them in a bioreactor. This process yields a product that mirrors the biological composition of traditional meat while integrating cultivated fat cells with plant proteins to create a hybrid offering, catering to the growing demand for sustainable meat alternatives.

Innocent Meat is a company that provides an automated, end-to-end clean meat production system aimed at helping food processors transition away from traditional animal agriculture. The business offers a comprehensive plug-and-play solution that includes growth media, cell lines, and scaffolding, as well as essential manufacturing hardware such as bioreactors and filtration systems. This integrated approach enables meat producers to efficiently manage the production of cell-based meat, ensuring safety and effectiveness in the process. Through its innovative technologies, Innocent Meat supports the shift towards sustainable food production by facilitating the adoption of clean meat alternatives.

MeliBio, Inc. is a technology-driven company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2020 by Aaron M. Schaller, PhD, and Darko Mandich. The company specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as a molecularly identical alternative to traditional honey. By employing advancements in plant biology, precision fermentation, and synthetic biology, MeliBio creates honey without the involvement of bees, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of commercial bee farming on biodiversity. In 2023, MeliBio launched its consumer-facing brand, Mellody, further expanding its market presence. Recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2021, MeliBio is committed to providing sustainable and innovative solutions in the food industry.

Orbillion Bio, Inc. is a food-tech company based in Fremont, California, focused on developing cultured meat products derived from heritage cattle breeds. Founded in 2019, the company utilizes small tissue samples from high-quality heritage animals to produce premium cell-based meat products. Orbillion Bio aims to harness the potential of cell-cultured meat to provide delicious and nutritious food that is sustainable and accessible. By sourcing heritage cell lines directly from farmers, the company emphasizes a commitment to quality and sustainability in its production processes.

Karana is a Singapore-based company that specializes in producing plant-based meat alternatives using jackfruit. Founded in 2018, the company transforms this underutilized supercrop into versatile products such as dumplings and baos, designed for both chefs and home cooks. Karana's mission is to promote sustainable food systems by utilizing regenerative agriculture practices that support smallholder farmers and reduce waste. By deploying proprietary technology throughout its value chain, the company aims to increase the widespread use of jackfruit in various food applications, fostering a shift from industrial monoculture farming to a more equitable and decentralized model. This approach not only helps create nutritious culinary experiences but also contributes to environmental sustainability.

Novel Farms, Inc. is a Berkeley, California-based company founded in 2020 that specializes in the production of cell-based meat delicacies. It focuses on developing cruelty-free, low-cost, and tunable bioscaffolds through microbial fermentation and proprietary tissue engineering technology. The company's mission is to create gourmet meat alternatives that replicate the taste and texture of conventional meats, appealing to a new generation of conscious consumers. By producing whole-muscle cuts of cultivated meat, Novel Farms aims to make synthetic meat-based delicacies accessible and desirable, transforming the consumption of cell-based meat into a sought-after culinary experience.

MeliBio, Inc. is a technology-driven company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2020 by Aaron M. Schaller, PhD, and Darko Mandich. The company specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as a molecularly identical alternative to traditional honey. By employing advancements in plant biology, precision fermentation, and synthetic biology, MeliBio creates honey without the involvement of bees, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of commercial bee farming on biodiversity. In 2023, MeliBio launched its consumer-facing brand, Mellody, further expanding its market presence. Recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2021, MeliBio is committed to providing sustainable and innovative solutions in the food industry.

Vevolution is a platform facilitating investment and collaboration in the bioeconomy sector. It connects investors with innovative startups focused on AgriFoodTech, Climate Tech, Biotech, Next-Gen Materials, and Sustainable AI, providing tools for deal sourcing, engagement, and data management to accelerate sustainable technology development.