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Ingrediome, based in Nes Ziona, Israel, develops alternative animal proteins by leveraging photosynthetic microorganisms in low-cost bioreactors to recreate meat and eggs. The company's core mission is to enable the production of real animal proteins without the significant environmental impact associated with traditional farming practices. Their technology focuses on creating lab-grown proteins that are not only tastier but also up to ten times cheaper to produce than conventional methods. Ingrediome currently operates with an estimated 11-20 employees, generating approximately $1.2 million in annual revenue and holding an estimated valuation of $3.9 million. Led by CEO Aviel Even, the organization was formerly known as Terramino Foods, an entity founded in 2017 in Berkeley, CA, and participated in SOSV's IndieBio incubator program. Ingrediome was founded in 2022.
Ingrediome has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Ingrediome has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ingrediome has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in February 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2024 | $2M Seed | — | Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Darco Capital, Northpond Ventures, SOSV, TET Ventures, Mark Cuban | Announced |
Ingrediome has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ingrediome's investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Darco Capital, Northpond Ventures, SOSV, Tet Ventures, Mark Cuban.
Ingrediome is a Tel Aviv-based biotech startup founded in 2022 that produces nature-identical animal muscle proteins for meat and seafood alternatives using photosynthetic precision fermentation with microalgae (cyanobacteria), CO2, and sunlight.[1][2][3][4] It solves the environmental and ethical issues of traditional meat production—such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and animal exploitation—by creating sustainable, carbon-negative products that replicate the taste, texture, and nutrition of real meat without compromises.[1][4] Targeting food producers, retailers, and consumers, Ingrediome has raised over $2.45M in funding, scaled from lab to 100L photobioreactors, and secured R&D interest from major Israeli and European players, plus finalist status in the Thai-Union innovation challenge.[1][2][3]
Ingrediome emerged in 2022 from the IndieBio accelerator (backed by SOSV), starting with a small team of 2-10 employees focused on engineering microalgae to express animal muscle proteins.[2][3] The idea stemmed from addressing gaps in existing plant-based alternatives, which often fail to match meat's sensory and nutritional qualities, while leveraging sunlight-driven fermentation for scalability and low cost—100x cheaper than traditional steel tanks.[1][2][3] Early traction included rapid prototyping of deli meats that drew partnerships with Israel's largest deli producer and a leading European ingredient firm, alongside seafood prototypes earning a top-3 spot in the Thai-Union challenge, marking pivotal validation within two years.[2][3]
Ingrediome rides the precision fermentation and alt-protein wave, capitalizing on surging demand for climate-friendly foods amid global meat consumption pressures and net-zero goals.[1][4] Timing aligns with maturing biotech tools and falling fermentation costs, amplified by investor interest from accelerators like IndieBio/SOSV, positioning it amid peers like Perfect Day or Solar Foods but uniquely via photosynthesis for true sustainability.[2][3] Favorable market forces include regulatory tailwinds for novel foods in Europe/Israel, consumer shifts toward ethical meats (post-2020s climate awareness), and supply chain strains on conventional agriculture; it influences the ecosystem by proving sun-fed proteins can disrupt $1T+ meat markets, inspiring scalable biotech for food security.[1][2]
Ingrediome's bioreactor scaling and partnerships signal strong momentum toward commercial pilots, potentially launching deli/seafood products in 2026 via collaborators.[2][3] Trends like AI-optimized strains, policy incentives for carbon-negative tech, and premium clean-label demand will propel growth, evolving its role from innovator to supplier in global alt-protein supply chains. As sun-fed meat gains traction, Ingrediome could redefine "meat confidence," empowering billions to eat traditionally without planetary trade-offs—echoing its mission for zero-compromise sustainability.[4]
