The food industry faces an urgent need to feed an ever-increasing population in a sustainable manner and existing food production systems need to be rethought. The production of animal protein, which is largely responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, is ripe for disruption.
Nosh.bio, a German startup tackling these challenges and bringing change to the food industry of the future, has secured seed funding of €3.2 million. German VC Earlybird (that has backed EthonAI, Isar Aerospace and Sikoia in the past) led the round with participation from US-based Clear Current Capital, Grey Silo Ventures, and Good Seed Ventures.
As part of the funding, Nosh.bio will focus on the commercialisation of its first product, R&D process development, and scaling up its production capacity in order to support future growth.
Dr. Christian Nagel, Partner at Earlybird commented: “Nosh.bio’s fermentation-based functional ingredient platform can play a significant role in tackling these challenges. However, the potential goes beyond plant-based products; their versatility makes the ingredients a fit even for more traditional categories and products. We are excited to partner with the Nosh.bio team on this journey and happy to welcome our second FoodTech portfolio company to the Earlybird family.”
Alejandro Marangoni from the University of Guelph, a key advisor on Nosh.bio board said, “Many of the processes developed are too expensive, lack nutritional properties and functionality, and are too energy- and water-intensive to qualify as truly sustainable. I always had the feeling that these options were not viable alternatives. The day I first held Nosh’s biomass in my hands, I realised that this could be the solution we’ve been looking for: structure, functionality and nutrition at a viable price through biology. This could represent the basis of the new generation of foods to feed humanity.”
Achieves alternative protein promise
Nosh.bio, founded in 2022 by Tim Fronzek, former co-founder of rebuy.com, and Felipe Lino, former Novozymes researcher and global R&D manager at AB-InBev, tackles alternative proteins head on. It unlocks the unrealised potential of alternative proteins by using fungi biomass.
The Berlin-based startup aims to transform the food industry in a way that is not harmful to people, animals, or nature. In addition to developing a technological platform to produce a class of highly functional food ingredients, the company also develops animal-free proteins for human nutrition.
It aims to help manufacturers of animal-free products compensate for animal products’ disadvantages in terms of taste, texture, and price so that they can reach mass markets. In addition to plant-based segments, Nosh.bio’s products can be used in meat, dairy, bakery, confectionery, and beverage verticals.
