Lever VC is a venture capital fund founded in 2017, with its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and regional offices in San Francisco and Hong Kong. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies within the alternative protein sector, focusing on plant-based and cell-based meat, dairy, and egg products. Led by Managing Partner Nick Cooney, who has a strong background in the alternative protein industry through roles with New Crop Capital and the Good Food Institute, Lever VC has established itself as a significant player in this emerging market. The firm's general partners have collectively invested over $1.5 billion across various sectors in the past decade, including more than thirty deals specifically in the alternative protein space. Lever VC operates globally, with teams in the U.S., Hong Kong, Europe, and Israel, actively seeking opportunities to support innovative entrepreneurs and startups in food technology.
XOXO Soda is a plant-based drink with prebiotic fiber that is low in sugar and calories.
Gavan
Series A in 2024
Gavan is a company that specializes in the extraction of natural proteins aimed at enhancing food quality through sustainable practices. Founded in 2018 in Acre, HaZafon, Israel, by Allen Hazan and Uri Jeremias, Gavan employs proprietary technology to extract high-purity proteins from plants while maintaining their natural structure and functionality. This innovative approach allows the food industry to create healthier and more environmentally friendly products without the use of animal-derived ingredients. By protecting the integrity of the biomass during the extraction process, the company ensures that additional ingredients can be harvested without harming the environment, promoting a sustainable model for food production.
Boston Bioprocess
Seed Round in 2024
Boston Bioprocess operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on facilitating the scale-up of microbial fermentation processes. The company specializes in providing comprehensive services that include strain evaluation, process development, and optimization of fermentation conditions for yeast, bacteria, and fungal microbes. By replicating commercial manufacturing conditions, Boston Bioprocess helps clients enhance production yields and reduce costs. Additionally, the company offers downstream processing optimization and effective technology transfer from laboratory settings to industrial scales. This enables fermentation-based companies to access necessary equipment and expertise, ultimately supporting them in their efforts to commercialize their products efficiently.
HerdDogg
Series A in 2024
HerdDogg, Inc. specializes in real-time livestock monitoring systems that assist producers in tracking their herds. The company offers a mobile app and software platform that provides insights into breeding, animal health, and traceability for individual animals. This system utilizes DoggTag ear tags, which are attached to the animals, and DoggBone, a passive device that collects data on the activity, health, and location of the herd. HerdDogg's technology is applicable across various livestock industries, including beef, bison, dairy, and sheep. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Ashland, Oregon, the company aims to enhance herd health management through data science and innovative monitoring solutions.
Clever Carnivore
Seed Round in 2023
Clever Carnivore is a Chicago-based cultivated meat company founded in 2021 by Dr. Paul Burridge and Dr. Virginia Rangos. The company focuses on creating sustainable and cost-competitive cultivated meat products, primarily pork, using optimized cell lines and bioprocesses. By leveraging biotechnology, Clever Carnivore aims to offer accessible and delicious meat alternatives that cater to the increasing global demand for food while promoting ethical consumption. Currently, the company is developing a range of pork products, including bratwurst, breakfast sausage, and Italian-style meatballs, in preparation for its upcoming fundraising efforts.
HerdDogg
Series A in 2023
HerdDogg, Inc. specializes in real-time livestock monitoring systems that assist producers in tracking their herds. The company offers a mobile app and software platform that provides insights into breeding, animal health, and traceability for individual animals. This system utilizes DoggTag ear tags, which are attached to the animals, and DoggBone, a passive device that collects data on the activity, health, and location of the herd. HerdDogg's technology is applicable across various livestock industries, including beef, bison, dairy, and sheep. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Ashland, Oregon, the company aims to enhance herd health management through data science and innovative monitoring solutions.
THIS
Series B in 2023
THIS is a plant-based meat brand that specializes in creating alternative meat products designed to appeal to meat lovers. The company focuses on developing items made from plant-based ingredients that are fortified with essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and iron. By doing so, THIS aims to provide consumers with the sensory experience of traditional meat while ensuring that no animals are harmed in the process. The brand's offerings cater to those seeking satisfying meat alternatives, promoting a sustainable and ethical dietary choice.
New School Foods
Seed Round in 2023
New School Foods specializes in developing plant-based seafood alternatives that replicate the texture, flavor, and nutritional benefits of traditional seafood. The company's flagship product is a plant-based filet designed to resemble wild salmon, providing consumers with a similar cooking experience and taste. By offering these whole-muscle seafood substitutes, New School Foods aims to contribute to a more sustainable food system and promote kinder consumption practices.
GROUNDED
Seed Round in 2022
Grounded is a London-based food and beverage company founded in 2016, specializing in the production of healthy natural drinks. The company focuses on creating low-sugar and plant-based beverages, including protein milkshakes made from coconut milk. Grounded uses only raw ingredients sourced from nature, ensuring that its products provide a flavorful and nutritious alternative to traditional drinks. The packaging is environmentally friendly, utilizing materials derived from plants, which aligns with the company's commitment to sustainability while catering to health-conscious consumers.
NuCicer
Seed Round in 2022
NuCicer is focused on transforming chickpeas from a niche ingredient into a staple superfood by developing new varieties with enhanced agronomic and quality traits. The company specializes in producing chickpeas that feature increased protein content, improved flavor, and tailored nutritional properties. Utilizing a diverse chickpea breeding library alongside a proprietary breeding innovation platform that integrates plant genetics and machine learning, NuCicer aims to address the growing demands for nutritious and sustainable food sources. Their efforts not only enhance the nutritional value of chickpeas but also aim to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, supporting the needs of the alternative-meat sector and promoting a more sustainable food system.
Bond Pet Foods
Venture Round in 2022
Bond Pet Foods is a Boulder, Colorado-based company that specializes in creating sustainable pet food products using biotechnology. Founded in 2015, the company develops meat proteins derived from animal cells without the need for animal slaughter, and utilizes fermentation processes similar to those found in craft brewing. The proteins are cultivated in fermentation tanks and are supplemented with a nutrient-rich broth containing vitamins, sugars, and minerals, ensuring they meet the nutritional needs of companion animals. By offering all-natural and animal-free alternatives, Bond Pet Foods aims to provide environmentally friendly options for pet owners while supplying its innovative ingredients to pet food manufacturers for incorporation into their recipes and product lines.
Avant Meats
Venture Round in 2022
Avant Meats is a biotechnology company specializing in the production of cell-based animal protein products, particularly fish and marine proteins. The company has developed an innovative platform that allows for the creation of nutritious and flavorful fish proteins directly from fish cells, eliminating the need for traditional methods such as raising, catching, or slaughtering animals. This approach enables the sustainable cultivation of animal-free proteins in a controlled environment, ensuring that the products are free from pollutants. Avant Meats aims to provide consumers with sustainable protein options for food, skincare, and functional applications, while also focusing on technology, product innovation, and the development of a robust intellectual property portfolio.
CellX
Series A in 2022
CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.
Melt&Marble
Seed Round in 2022
Melt&Marble is a plant-based industry enabler focused on producing alternative fats that enhance the taste and quality of plant-based foods. Utilizing precision fermentation, the company engineers microbial metabolism to create fats that mimic the structure and properties of traditional animal fats without the need for animals. By developing yeast cell factories through advanced bioengineering techniques, Melt&Marble enables food manufacturers to formulate plant-based products that are both healthy and flavorful, effectively bridging the gap between plant-based and animal-based food experiences.
Mooji Meats
Seed Round in 2022
Mooji Meats is a sustainable food manufacturing company specializing in the production of plant-based steaks designed to replicate the taste and texture of real meat. Utilizing a proprietary platform, Mooji Meats mimics muscle structure with plant fibers, offering consumers an alternative to traditional rib-eyes that meets their culinary desires while prioritizing health and environmental considerations. The company focuses on providing a luxury experience without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO), aiming to satisfy both ethical and taste preferences in the growing market for plant-based alternatives.
Good Food Technologies
Seed Round in 2022
Good Food Technologies is a Hong Kong-based startup specializing in innovative food research and development, as well as manufacturing. The company focuses on creating plant-based meat products using non-GMO soy as the primary protein source. By offering vegetarian alternatives, Good Food Technologies aims to provide consumers with healthier and sustainable options to replace traditional meat.
NuCicer
Seed Round in 2022
NuCicer is focused on transforming chickpeas from a niche ingredient into a staple superfood by developing new varieties with enhanced agronomic and quality traits. The company specializes in producing chickpeas that feature increased protein content, improved flavor, and tailored nutritional properties. Utilizing a diverse chickpea breeding library alongside a proprietary breeding innovation platform that integrates plant genetics and machine learning, NuCicer aims to address the growing demands for nutritious and sustainable food sources. Their efforts not only enhance the nutritional value of chickpeas but also aim to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, supporting the needs of the alternative-meat sector and promoting a more sustainable food system.
Nude
Series A in 2022
Nude is a food technology company that specializes in creating plant-based food products using organically-grown oats sourced from small producers. Committed to sustainability, Nude aligns its operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on delivering flavorful and healthy alternatives to traditional foods. The company emphasizes transparency by calculating the carbon footprint of its products, allowing consumers to make informed choices about their dietary options. Led by women, Nude aims to simplify the consumption of vegetable-based alternatives while championing environmental responsibility.
Marvelous Foods
Angel Round in 2022
Marvelous Foods is a plant-based snack food start-up that specializes in producing and retailing dairy-free coconut yogurt, known as yeyo yogurt. The company aims to nourish consumers and the planet by providing healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products. By focusing on gut-healing and allergy-friendly options, Marvelous Foods caters to individuals seeking natural and diet-inclusive food solutions. The brand originated by sharing yogurt with friends, neighbors, and local eateries that appreciated wholesome, sustainable food choices.
NoMoo Plant-Based
Series A in 2021
NoMoo Plant-Based specializes in the production of plant-based dairy alternatives, focusing on fermented cashew nut cheeses and yogurts. The company aims to provide sustainable options to traditional animal-based products by creating a variety of vegan offerings, including cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise, and French-style fermented butter. By utilizing locally sourced cashews, NoMoo Plant-Based offers consumers a taste of Brazilian cuisine while promoting a plant-based lifestyle.
Welldone
Series A in 2021
Welldone is a producer of plant-based meat products that focuses on providing nutritious and affordable alternatives to animal-based foods. The company offers a diverse range of items, including cutlets, minced meat, and patties, designed to meet the nutritional needs of consumers while promoting ethical eating practices. With strong research and development capabilities and sourcing operations in Russia, Welldone aims to establish itself as the leading brand in the country, catering to a market of over 140 million people. The company is also targeting international expansion and aims to achieve price parity with traditional meat products, enabling it to reach a broader audience.
THIS
Series A in 2021
THIS is a plant-based meat brand that specializes in creating alternative meat products designed to appeal to meat lovers. The company focuses on developing items made from plant-based ingredients that are fortified with essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and iron. By doing so, THIS aims to provide consumers with the sensory experience of traditional meat while ensuring that no animals are harmed in the process. The brand's offerings cater to those seeking satisfying meat alternatives, promoting a sustainable and ethical dietary choice.
Marvelous Foods
Seed Round in 2021
Marvelous Foods is a plant-based snack food start-up that specializes in producing and retailing dairy-free coconut yogurt, known as yeyo yogurt. The company aims to nourish consumers and the planet by providing healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products. By focusing on gut-healing and allergy-friendly options, Marvelous Foods caters to individuals seeking natural and diet-inclusive food solutions. The brand originated by sharing yogurt with friends, neighbors, and local eateries that appreciated wholesome, sustainable food choices.
Mission Barns
Series A in 2021
Mission Barns, Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Berkeley, California, specializes in the production of cell-cultured meat derived from animal cells. The company employs cellular agriculture techniques to cultivate animal cells in a nutrient-rich environment, allowing for the sustainable growth of meat without the adverse effects associated with traditional intensive animal agriculture. By starting with a small number of cells from select animals, Mission Barns aims to provide consumers with juicy and savory meat products that meet the increasing demand for sustainable food alternatives. The company's innovative approach lies at the intersection of biotechnology and food science, contributing to a more responsible food system.
New Singularity
Seed Round in 2021
New Singularity is a startup that produces plant-based seafood using mycelium fermentation technology.
BLUU Seafood
Seed Round in 2021
Bluu Seafood is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercial production of cultivated seafood derived from fish cells. The company aims to provide healthier and more sustainable alternatives to traditional seafood, ensuring that its products are both nutritious and environmentally friendly. By utilizing innovative food technology, Bluu Seafood seeks to deliver fish products that do not harm animals or contribute to the depletion of fragile ocean ecosystems, aligning with growing consumer demand for responsible food sources. This approach allows Bluu Seafood to cater to customers seeking sustainable seafood options while promoting a more ethical food industry.
CellX
Seed Round in 2021
CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.
The New
Seed Round in 2021
The New is a Brazilian food technology company that specializes in the production of plant-based meats as alternatives to traditional animal-based foods. The company utilizes ingredients such as pea protein, coconut fat, and beetroot to create various meat alternatives, including beef burgers, chicken tenders, and salmon fillets. Its products are designed to be gluten-free and contain no added sugar, appealing to health-conscious consumers seeking sustainable dietary options.
HERO Protein
Pre Seed Round in 2021
HERO Protein is an alternative protein company focused on producing plant-based meat products. The company develops a variety of meat alternatives, including beef, chicken, and fish, using high moisture extrusion technology. This innovative approach, not widely adopted by domestic brands in China as of 2021, allows HERO Protein to create products that closely mimic the taste and culinary experience of conventional meat. In addition to flavor, the company emphasizes food safety, nutrition, and sustainability, making their offerings accessible and appealing to consumers seeking healthier and environmentally friendly food options.
Avant Meats
Seed Round in 2020
Avant Meats is a biotechnology company specializing in the production of cell-based animal protein products, particularly fish and marine proteins. The company has developed an innovative platform that allows for the creation of nutritious and flavorful fish proteins directly from fish cells, eliminating the need for traditional methods such as raising, catching, or slaughtering animals. This approach enables the sustainable cultivation of animal-free proteins in a controlled environment, ensuring that the products are free from pollutants. Avant Meats aims to provide consumers with sustainable protein options for food, skincare, and functional applications, while also focusing on technology, product innovation, and the development of a robust intellectual property portfolio.
CellX
Pre Seed Round in 2020
CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.
Bond Pet Foods
Convertible Note in 2020
Bond Pet Foods is a Boulder, Colorado-based company that specializes in creating sustainable pet food products using biotechnology. Founded in 2015, the company develops meat proteins derived from animal cells without the need for animal slaughter, and utilizes fermentation processes similar to those found in craft brewing. The proteins are cultivated in fermentation tanks and are supplemented with a nutrient-rich broth containing vitamins, sugars, and minerals, ensuring they meet the nutritional needs of companion animals. By offering all-natural and animal-free alternatives, Bond Pet Foods aims to provide environmentally friendly options for pet owners while supplying its innovative ingredients to pet food manufacturers for incorporation into their recipes and product lines.
GOOD PLANeT Foods
Series A in 2020
Good PLANeT Foods LLC, established in 2017 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, specializes in premium plant-based cheese products. The company offers a range of non-dairy cheese options, including shreds and slices in flavors such as mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, smoked provolone, garlic and herb, and hot pepper. By providing these alternatives, Good PLANeT Foods aims to deliver the taste and experience of traditional dairy cheese while promoting health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
GROUNDED
Seed Round in 2020
Grounded is a London-based food and beverage company founded in 2016, specializing in the production of healthy natural drinks. The company focuses on creating low-sugar and plant-based beverages, including protein milkshakes made from coconut milk. Grounded uses only raw ingredients sourced from nature, ensuring that its products provide a flavorful and nutritious alternative to traditional drinks. The packaging is environmentally friendly, utilizing materials derived from plants, which aligns with the company's commitment to sustainability while catering to health-conscious consumers.
TurtleTree
Pre Seed Round in 2020
TurtleTree Labs is a biotechnology company based in Singapore, established in 2019, that focuses on producing real milk from animal cells using innovative cell-based technology. The company aims to create a sustainable and affordable alternative to traditional dairy products, offering milk ingredients that are healthier for consumers and better for the environment. By utilizing mammary cells, TurtleTree's process allows for the production of clean milk and cultured milk products without the need for animals, thereby eliminating animal exploitation and reducing environmental impact. This approach not only addresses the demand for nutritious dairy alternatives but also aligns with the growing interest in sustainable food production practices.
The Better Meat
Seed Round in 2020
The Better Meat Co. is a business-to-business company based in West Sacramento, California, that specializes in producing plant-based protein formulas for foodservice providers and meat processors. Founded in 2018, the company offers a range of products, including Damona for ground beef, Albina for ground pork, and Thunderbird for ground chicken, all designed to enhance the flavor and nutritional profile of traditional meat products. By utilizing fermentation technology to create mycoprotein ingredients, The Better Meat Co. provides solutions that are not only allergen-free but also promote sustainability in the meat industry. Its products enable food manufacturers to produce blended meat items such as burgers, meatballs, and sausages while reducing environmental impact and catering to health-conscious consumers.
Bond Pet Foods
Seed Round in 2019
Bond Pet Foods is a Boulder, Colorado-based company that specializes in creating sustainable pet food products using biotechnology. Founded in 2015, the company develops meat proteins derived from animal cells without the need for animal slaughter, and utilizes fermentation processes similar to those found in craft brewing. The proteins are cultivated in fermentation tanks and are supplemented with a nutrient-rich broth containing vitamins, sugars, and minerals, ensuring they meet the nutritional needs of companion animals. By offering all-natural and animal-free alternatives, Bond Pet Foods aims to provide environmentally friendly options for pet owners while supplying its innovative ingredients to pet food manufacturers for incorporation into their recipes and product lines.
The Good Spoon
Seed Round in 2019
The Good Spoon Co, founded in 2019 and based in Paris, France, specializes in manufacturing and distributing gourmet eggless sauces and plant-based mayonnaises. Utilizing microalgae as a core protein source, the company offers a variety of innovative condiments, including Supernaise, Garlinaise, Currynaise, and Spicynaise. These products provide a vegetable-based alternative to traditional mayonnaise, catering to health-conscious consumers and those seeking environmentally friendly options. The Good Spoon Co aims to enhance culinary experiences with its unique flavors while promoting a sustainable food future.
GOOD PLANeT Foods
Seed Round in 2019
Good PLANeT Foods LLC, established in 2017 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, specializes in premium plant-based cheese products. The company offers a range of non-dairy cheese options, including shreds and slices in flavors such as mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, smoked provolone, garlic and herb, and hot pepper. By providing these alternatives, Good PLANeT Foods aims to deliver the taste and experience of traditional dairy cheese while promoting health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Avant Meats
Seed Round in 2019
Avant Meats is a biotechnology company specializing in the production of cell-based animal protein products, particularly fish and marine proteins. The company has developed an innovative platform that allows for the creation of nutritious and flavorful fish proteins directly from fish cells, eliminating the need for traditional methods such as raising, catching, or slaughtering animals. This approach enables the sustainable cultivation of animal-free proteins in a controlled environment, ensuring that the products are free from pollutants. Avant Meats aims to provide consumers with sustainable protein options for food, skincare, and functional applications, while also focusing on technology, product innovation, and the development of a robust intellectual property portfolio.
Mission Barns
Seed Round in 2019
Mission Barns, Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Berkeley, California, specializes in the production of cell-cultured meat derived from animal cells. The company employs cellular agriculture techniques to cultivate animal cells in a nutrient-rich environment, allowing for the sustainable growth of meat without the adverse effects associated with traditional intensive animal agriculture. By starting with a small number of cells from select animals, Mission Barns aims to provide consumers with juicy and savory meat products that meet the increasing demand for sustainable food alternatives. The company's innovative approach lies at the intersection of biotechnology and food science, contributing to a more responsible food system.
Marvelous Foods
Seed Round in 2019
Marvelous Foods is a plant-based snack food start-up that specializes in producing and retailing dairy-free coconut yogurt, known as yeyo yogurt. The company aims to nourish consumers and the planet by providing healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products. By focusing on gut-healing and allergy-friendly options, Marvelous Foods caters to individuals seeking natural and diet-inclusive food solutions. The brand originated by sharing yogurt with friends, neighbors, and local eateries that appreciated wholesome, sustainable food choices.
Mush Foods
Mush Foods is a New York-based food technology company specializing in the production of edible mushroom mycelium as a sustainable protein alternative. Their flagship product line, 50CUT, is unique in its ability to blend seamlessly with real animal meat, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional meat production. By utilizing fermentation and artificial intelligence, Mush Foods efficiently creates fungi-based ingredients that enhance the nutrition, taste, and cost-effectiveness of plant-based dishes. This innovative approach positions the company at the forefront of the growing demand for sustainable and animal-free protein sources.
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