Big Idea Ventures

Nanoingreen is a company focused on transforming plant-based products into functional foods through innovative formulations. Utilizing precision fermentation processes, it develops next-generation nutritious foods designed to provide specific health benefits and prevent potential future health issues. By synthesizing functional ingredients, Nanoingreen enables its clients to enhance their plant-based offerings with diverse flavors and textures, thereby contributing to the advancement of nutritious food solutions in the market.

Future Biome is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of next-generation prebiotics for gut health. Utilizing a predictive bioinformatics platform, the company creates precision fungal-based prebiotics, tailored to specific microbiota or market segments, enhancing their efficacy. In vitro studies have demonstrated a 500% increase in microbiota function with 100% efficacy against market references. Clinical trials for the first fungal prebiotic are scheduled to commence in April 2024.

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.

Perfat Technologies is a health-focused technology company that specializes in the development of fat-management applications using healthy vegetable oils. The company employs advanced oleogel and ultrasound technologies to create plant-based fat alternatives, enhancing the functional properties of oils such as rapeseed and sunflower oil. By optimizing bioprocesses through its software, Perfat Technologies aims to accelerate research and development, reduce production costs, and improve sustainability in food production. This innovative approach broadens the use of healthy oils, making them more accessible for consumers while promoting better dietary choices.

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.

Cultivated Biosciences is a food production company focused on developing specialized fat ingredients derived from oleaginous yeast. This innovative approach aims to enhance the creaminess and mouthfeel of plant-based dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, making them more appealing to consumers. The company's yeast-based ingredients provide a clean label and sustainable production process, mimicking the texture and color of traditional dairy while featuring properties like low lipid oxidation and natural emulsification. This enables the production of healthier, animal-free alternatives that cater to the growing demand for plant-based options.

Esencia Foods is a food processing company focused on creating sustainable seafood alternatives derived from mushroom mycelium. The company employs solid-state fermentation to produce high-protein, fiber-rich, and omega-3-enriched food products that are vegan, non-GMO, and free from antibiotics. By offering innovative mycelium-based fish and seafood substitutes, Esencia Foods aims to promote a healthy and nutrient-rich lifestyle for consumers.

Novel Farms, Inc. is a company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2020, that specializes in the production of cell-based meat products aimed at ethical consumers. Utilizing microbial fermentation and proprietary tissue engineering technology, Novel Farms develops cruelty-free and affordable 3D bioscaffolds, which enable the creation of structured meat products that replicate the taste and texture of traditional gourmet meats. The company focuses on making cell-based meat a desirable culinary option for a new generation of consumers, promoting a more sustainable and ethical approach to meat consumption. Through its innovative methods, Novel Farms seeks to achieve price parity with conventional meat, making its offerings accessible to a broader audience while transforming the future of food.

Algrow Biosciences focuses on developing innovative ingredients aimed at enhancing the sustainability and nutritional value of the food system. The company specializes in producing dairy alternative products by utilizing functional and versatile algae proteins. Through a gentle, solvent-free biorefinery process, Algrow addresses specific molecules in microalgae that may contribute to undesirable flavors and colors. This technology enables the extraction of complete proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and other essential nutrients, providing valuable business-to-business ingredients for the food industry.

Mycosortia focuses on transforming food byproducts that are unsuitable for human consumption into valuable alternative protein products through its innovative microbial biotransformation technology. The company specializes in upcycling materials like spent barley grains, okara, and wheat bran to create high-quality protein-rich ingredients. Among its offerings is FibProtTM, a functional protein powder provided to businesses as a green-labeled food ingredient. Additionally, Mycosortia develops and supplies a range of alternative protein food products, including protein cookies, bars, and shakes, which are marketed to consumers through business partnerships. By unlocking the potential of food side streams, Mycosortia aims to contribute to sustainable food practices while meeting the growing demand for alternative protein sources.

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.

AQUA Cultured Foods specializes in producing innovative, fungi-based food products that serve as fermentation-enabled alternatives to traditional seafood. The company focuses on creating plant-based seafood that replicates the taste, texture, and freshness of fish, including tuna, scallops, squid, and shellfish, while being entirely fish-free. By meticulously controlling the growing environment, AQUA ensures that its products are consistently high-quality and sustainable. This approach allows consumers to enjoy delicious and healthy seafood options without contributing to the depletion of ocean resources, catering to the growing demand for environmentally friendly food alternatives.

De Novo Foodlabs is a producer of animal-free dairy products and proteins, focusing on creating nutritionally identical alternatives to cow's milk. Utilizing precision fermentation technology, the company develops innovative ingredients that are sustainable, vegan, and free from antibiotics. Their protein innovation platform allows food companies to adopt a phased approach to product development, targeting healthier and more environmentally friendly food options. By combining bioinformatics with advanced biotechnology, De Novo modifies the functionality of proteins and essential nutrients, enabling the creation of nutrient-dense dairy alternatives that are easier to produce and have a lower environmental impact.

Farmsow is a B2B ingredients company focused on producing alternative healthy ingredients that address the sustainable nutrition gap. Utilizing net-zero technology, Farmsow upcycles agricultural sidestreams and employs industrial fermentation processes to create substitutes for tropical oils and animal fats. These innovative solutions cater to a variety of applications, promoting a clean and healthy lifestyle through the use of synthetic biology.

The Frauxmagerie is a manufacturer of plant-based cheese products that offers a variety of dairy-free alternatives to traditional cheeses, including aged and fresh options. Each product is handcrafted using only five natural ingredients: raw cashews, nutritional yeast, vegan probiotics, salt, and bacterial cultures. The company aims to innovate traditional cheese-making methods to create authentic, nutritious alternatives that are healthier and environmentally friendly. By utilizing cashews and a vegan probiotic in the fermentation process, The Frauxmagerie provides customers with ethical and flavorful cheese options that cater to those seeking plant-based diets.

Jellatech is a biotechnology company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with research and development operations in Wageningen, Netherlands. The company specializes in producing high-quality, animal-free collagen and gelatin through cellular agriculture, which involves growing cells in bioreactors. By eliminating the need for animal sources, Jellatech provides sustainable and safe ingredients for various sectors, including food and beverage, medical, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries. Founded by a team of innovators and scientists, Jellatech aims to create better ingredient products while promoting ethical and sustainable practices in the production of artificial proteins.

incrEDIBLE reinvents the way we eat or pack our food by replacing single use plastics with edible cutlery. Our edible spoons are vegan, natural and made with non-gmo grains. They can stay firm for up to 30 minutes in hot foods and come in 2 shapes and 5 flavors! Did you EAT your SPOON today? PS: More incrEDIBLE shapes like edible straws, edible sporks are on the way!

New Breed Meats specializes in producing plant-based meat alternatives that closely resemble the taste, texture, and cooking properties of traditional animal meats. The company's products are designed for individuals seeking non-animal protein sources and are free from the top eight allergens, making them soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. By offering delicious and meat-like options, New Breed Meats aims to provide accessible and appealing alternatives for consumers who desire non-vegetarian food experiences.

AQUA Cultured Foods specializes in producing innovative, fungi-based food products that serve as fermentation-enabled alternatives to traditional seafood. The company focuses on creating plant-based seafood that replicates the taste, texture, and freshness of fish, including tuna, scallops, squid, and shellfish, while being entirely fish-free. By meticulously controlling the growing environment, AQUA ensures that its products are consistently high-quality and sustainable. This approach allows consumers to enjoy delicious and healthy seafood options without contributing to the depletion of ocean resources, catering to the growing demand for environmentally friendly food alternatives.

Cellcraft is a cultivated meat start-up based in Cambridge, focused on providing a scalable manufacturing platform for cultivated meat production. The company offers a comprehensive system that includes raw materials, hardware, software, and bioprocesses, enabling food producers to create their own cultivated meats on a commercial scale. This approach allows for customization to meet local tastes and specifications while addressing significant challenges related to food security and sustainability. By empowering producers to manufacture cultivated meats locally, Cellcraft aims to democratize access to sustainable food options and contribute to solutions for global sustainability and health issues.

Meat.The End is focused on advancing plant-based meat alternatives that closely replicate the texture, flavor, and appearance of traditional animal proteins. By employing innovative extrusion processing techniques, the company develops protein texturizing technologies that enhance the sensory experience of plant-based products. Recognizing that texture remains a significant barrier to consumer acceptance of meat alternatives, Meat.The End's solutions aim to improve the mouthfeel and overall eating experience, thereby addressing a critical shortcoming in current plant-based offerings. Through its industrial processes and protein treatment methods, the company enables producers to create nutritionally balanced products that convincingly mimic the characteristics of meat, ultimately providing healthier and more satisfying options for consumers seeking alternatives to animal-based foods.

Angie's Tempeh is a plant-based protein manufacturer that specializes in producing tempeh through a precise fermentation process. This technology allows the company to create a protein-rich food product characterized by a firm texture and thick, white mycelium, which contributes to its distinctive mushroom-like aroma. By focusing on natural and wholesome ingredients, Angie's Tempeh aims to provide customers with a delicious alternative to traditional protein sources, catering to the growing demand for plant-based diets.

Blue Ridge Bantam is a pioneering cultured meat company based in the South, specializing in the development of cell-based turkey products. The company aims to lead the transition to sustainable meat alternatives by utilizing avian cell-based technology. By collecting tissue and fat cells from animals and cultivating them in bioreactors, Blue Ridge Bantam produces poultry meat that retains the biological characteristics of traditional fat cells. This innovative process allows for the integration of cultivated fat cells with plant proteins, resulting in a hybrid poultry product that is designed to be healthy, flavorful, and environmentally friendly. Blue Ridge Bantam's mission is to provide consumers with a sustainable source of protein while addressing the challenges of traditional meat production.

MeliBio, Inc. is a technology-driven company that focuses on producing vegan nectar products as a sustainable alternative to traditional honey. Founded in 2020 by Aaron M. Schaller, PhD, and Darko Mandich, MeliBio utilizes advancements in plant biology, precision fermentation, and synthetic biology to create honey without the involvement of bees, thereby addressing concerns related to biodiversity and the environmental impact of commercial beekeeping. The company, headquartered in Oakland, California, aims to provide food producers with molecularly identical nectar alternatives that are healthier and do not rely on bee farming. In 2023, MeliBio expanded its offerings by launching its consumer brand, Mellody, further promoting its innovative approach to honey production. TIME recognized MeliBio's pioneering methodology as one of the Best Inventions of 2021.

The world's first Restorative Food company that revives your health, restores farmer livelihoods and rejuvenates the planet! We use sustainable indigenous ingredients to create nutritionally-rich avatars of familiar foods! Our first product range is inspired by traditional Indian dairy favourites.

Grounded Foods Co. is a West Hollywood-based company that specializes in producing plant-based cheeses made from cauliflower and hemp seeds. Its product offerings include gruyere style cheese, camembert style cheese, marinated hemp seed feta, and hemp seed cream cheese, all crafted through a proprietary fermentation process. This innovative approach allows the products to closely mimic the flavor and texture of traditional dairy cheese while providing high nutritional value and promoting environmental sustainability. Founded in 2019 by Australian entrepreneurs Veronica Fil, a behavioral economist, and Shaun Quade, an internationally acclaimed chef, the company aims to make dairy-free cheese accessible to a wider audience through both retail and online sales.

Confetti Snacks specializes in producing gourmet plant-based snacks that highlight Singapore's heritage flavors. The company utilizes nutrient-dense vegetables and upcycled ugly produce to create its products, which provide an excellent source of minerals and fiber. The snacks are presented in 100% home compostable packaging, emphasizing the brand's commitment to environmental sustainability. In addition to offering delicious and healthy options, Confetti Snacks contributes a portion of its proceeds to efforts aimed at alleviating global hunger and malnutrition, reinforcing its dedication to social responsibility.