Big Idea Ventures

NouBio Inc specializes in advancing the cultivated meat industry through innovative, sustainable, and animal-free technology solutions. The company offers market-ready products that significantly reduce production costs by up to 95% while ensuring high performance and scalability for cultivated meat biomanufacturing. Its flagship products include NouSerum, a complete replacement for fetal bovine serum that contains all 300 required proteins and is designed to increase cell density while minimizing contamination risks, and NouCarrier, an edible microcarrier that also lowers production costs and eliminates the need for cell removal post-production. Both products are GRAS certified, powder-based, and can be stored at room temperature, making them practical for various biomanufacturing sectors, including vaccine development and regenerative medicine. NouBio's commitment to sustainability and efficiency positions it as a key player in the biotechnology field, with plans for future products aimed at further reducing infrastructure costs and energy consumption.

Mycosortia specializes in turning food side streams that are unfit for human consumption into edible alternative protein products using our proprietary microbial biotransformation technology. We supply functional protein powder FibProtTM as high-value green labelled functional food ingredients via B2B partnerships. We also formulate and supply alternative protein food products, such as protein cookies, protein bars, and protein shakes, to customers derived from FibProtTM B2B2C sales.

Pullulo is a company focused on developing alternative plant-based proteins to promote a sustainable future. Their innovative microbial proteins are designed to be allergen-free, non-GMO, vegan, and Halal, catering to a variety of dietary needs. By utilizing these proteins, Pullulo aims to create more efficient and environmentally responsible solutions for industries facing diverse challenges. Their approach emphasizes the catalytic properties of plant-based proteins, which can enhance chemical reactions, thereby contributing to sustainable food production, regenerative aesthetics, and therapeutic applications. Through their work, Pullulo seeks to harness the potential of proteins and microorganisms to address pressing global sustainability issues.

MeliBio, Inc., established in 2020 and located in Berkeley, California, specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as molecularly identical alternatives to honey. The company utilizes scientific technologies and synthetic biology to create honey-like products without relying on bees, addressing concerns related to biodiversity loss associated with commercial bee farming. By providing these innovative alternatives, MeliBio enables food producers to incorporate vegan nectar into their offerings, promoting a more sustainable approach to honey production.

Optimized Foods is focused on developing sustainable food production techniques, beginning with cell-cultured caviar. The company utilizes proprietary mycelium scaffolds combined with advanced cell biology to innovate within the cultivated meat sector. By concentrating on creating nutritious and healthier food options, Optimized Foods aims to transform the food industry and enhance the scalability of sustainable food production. Their approach emphasizes harnessing the form, function, and structure of cultivated meat to meet the growing demand for better food alternatives.

Producer of fungi-based food products intended to offer fermentation-enabled alternative seafood space. The company utilizes science to create plant-based alternatives that mimic the taste, texture, and freshness of traditional seafood, enabling consumers to enjoy delicious and healthy seafood options without harming the oceans.

Biftek Inc. is a biotechnology company based in New Castle, Delaware, founded in 2018. The company focuses on producing sustainable meat by extracting stem cells from cattle and developing innovative culture medium supplements that facilitate the growth of muscle stem cells. Biftek's approach aims to address the challenges of sustainable meat production in the context of rising global populations and resource shortages. By utilizing clean meat technology, the company produces real meat without genetic modifications or antibiotics, eliminating the need for traditional animal farming and slaughterhouses. This method not only supports the growing demand for meat but also contributes to climate change mitigation, offering a viable solution to food production challenges. The founding team includes experienced professionals with expertise in stem cell research and finance.

Maya Milk is a precision fermentation company established in 2021 and based in Izmir, Turkey. The company specializes in producing animal-free dairy proteins and fatty acids, offering vegan substitutes for the food and dairy industry. By utilizing precision fermentation, Maya Milk creates dairy proteins and fats that closely resemble their animal-derived counterparts. This innovation enables customers to enhance the functionality of alternative dairy products, contributing to the development of new animal-free dairy categories.

Producer of plant-based cheese intended to innovate traditional cheese-making to craft an authentic, dairy-free product that is healthier, and environmentally friendly. The company crafts authentic cheese using cashews and a vegan probiotic in the fermentation process to create a nutritious alternative to dairy, enabling customers with a product that is ethical and good in taste.

Farmsow is developing novel food ingredients with its micro biorefinery platform Agrolysis™, working towards the health of the planet and its inhabitants.

Producer of fungi-based food products intended to offer fermentation-enabled alternative seafood space. The company utilizes science to create plant-based alternatives that mimic the taste, texture, and freshness of traditional seafood, enabling consumers to enjoy delicious and healthy seafood options without harming the oceans.

New Breed Meats creates plant-based meats that look, cook and taste just like their animal counterparts. Our meats are made for all and does not contain any of the top 8 allergens. It is soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO and 100% meaty and delicious!

MeliBio, Inc., established in 2020 and located in Berkeley, California, specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as molecularly identical alternatives to honey. The company utilizes scientific technologies and synthetic biology to create honey-like products without relying on bees, addressing concerns related to biodiversity loss associated with commercial bee farming. By providing these innovative alternatives, MeliBio enables food producers to incorporate vegan nectar into their offerings, promoting a more sustainable approach to honey production.

Blue Ridge Bantam is the South’s first cultured meat company focused on America’s original source of protein: turkey. It’s mission is to commercialize avian cell-based technology in order to help the world transition to meat that is healthy, tasty, and most importantly sustainable.

Farmsow is developing novel food ingredients with its micro biorefinery platform Agrolysis™, working towards the health of the planet and its inhabitants.

MeliBio, Inc., established in 2020 and located in Berkeley, California, specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as molecularly identical alternatives to honey. The company utilizes scientific technologies and synthetic biology to create honey-like products without relying on bees, addressing concerns related to biodiversity loss associated with commercial bee farming. By providing these innovative alternatives, MeliBio enables food producers to incorporate vegan nectar into their offerings, promoting a more sustainable approach to honey production.

Biftek Inc. is a biotechnology company based in New Castle, Delaware, founded in 2018. The company focuses on producing sustainable meat by extracting stem cells from cattle and developing innovative culture medium supplements that facilitate the growth of muscle stem cells. Biftek's approach aims to address the challenges of sustainable meat production in the context of rising global populations and resource shortages. By utilizing clean meat technology, the company produces real meat without genetic modifications or antibiotics, eliminating the need for traditional animal farming and slaughterhouses. This method not only supports the growing demand for meat but also contributes to climate change mitigation, offering a viable solution to food production challenges. The founding team includes experienced professionals with expertise in stem cell research and finance.

Orbillion Bio, Inc. is a food-tech company based in Fremont, California, focused on developing cultured meat products derived from small tissue samples of heritage cattle breeds. Founded in 2019, the company emphasizes a farm-to-table approach by sourcing heritage cell lines directly from farmers. Orbillion aims to provide consumers with healthy, ethical, and flavorful meat options, positioning itself as a producer of clean meat that caters to modern dietary preferences.

MeliBio, Inc., established in 2020 and located in Berkeley, California, specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as molecularly identical alternatives to honey. The company utilizes scientific technologies and synthetic biology to create honey-like products without relying on bees, addressing concerns related to biodiversity loss associated with commercial bee farming. By providing these innovative alternatives, MeliBio enables food producers to incorporate vegan nectar into their offerings, promoting a more sustainable approach to honey production.

Evo Foods is a Mumbai-based company founded in 2019 that specializes in producing plant-based liquid eggs in India. The company's product serves as an alternative to traditional animal products, utilizing a blend of moong beans and peas enhanced by patent-pending technology. Evo Foods' liquid plant-based egg is designed to replicate the texture of real eggs while providing high protein content and essential micronutrients, including Vitamin B12. This innovative offering caters to consumers seeking plant-based substitutes in the growing market for alternatives to animal agriculture.

Orbillion Bio, Inc. is a food-tech company based in Fremont, California, focused on developing cultured meat products derived from small tissue samples of heritage cattle breeds. Founded in 2019, the company emphasizes a farm-to-table approach by sourcing heritage cell lines directly from farmers. Orbillion aims to provide consumers with healthy, ethical, and flavorful meat options, positioning itself as a producer of clean meat that caters to modern dietary preferences.

Black Sheep Foods Inc., founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, specializes in producing plant-based lamb alternatives. The company leverages innovative technology and analytical chemistry to develop its products, which include a plant-based alternative to ground lamb made from soy protein, coconut oil, and natural flavors. By offering a sustainable substitute for traditional lamb, Black Sheep Foods aims to provide consumers with a healthier option that also helps reduce their carbon footprint while delivering a similar taste experience.

Uproot specializes in producing healthy and sustainable plant-based milk tailored for food services like college dining and cafeterias. The company addresses the increasing demand for diverse plant milk options by providing dispensers that streamline operations and minimize packaging waste. Uproot's plant-based milk offerings include alternatives such as oat milk, soymilk, and chocolate pea milk, designed for health-conscious consumers. By focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, packaging waste, and water use compared to traditional dairy and plant milks, Uproot presents a more environmentally friendly choice for those seeking alternatives to conventional beverages.