Israeli startup Meala, which develops a functional protein platform, has raised $1.9 million in pre-seed investment. The funding round was led by an Israeli seed investor and incubator firm, The Kitchen FoodTech Hub, part of The Strauss-Group and the corporate venture capital arm of Royal DSM, based in the Netherlands, DSM Venturing, which also invested in Inne and Phytolon. Also, the investment round saw participation from Milk & Honey Ventures.
The funding will initially be used to accelerate the company’s platform technology from the lab to pilot scale.
“We are excited to complete this investment round with the support of leading investors,” noted Hadar Razmovich, CEO and Meala co-founder. “This achievement reflects the investors’ trust in our technology and R&D team of experts. “There is a significant need in the plant-based industry to effectively reduce undesirable ingredients and clean up labels. This investment will help us get closer and faster to the market, better address the companies’ specific needs and provide affordable, smarter solutions.”
“It is exciting to support Meala on this important mission to improve plant-based foods, making them tastier, more nutritious, and with readily recognizable ingredients,” expressed Jonathan Berger, CEO of The Kitchen FoodTech Hub. “This is another milestone in our quest to nourish a better tomorrow, and we are honored to have a leading entity such as DSM Venturing co-invest with us in such a promising company.”
“This investment will enable us to accelerate our growth and support plant-based producers in their mission to reach new consumer segments,” stated Dr. Tali Feldman Sivan, PhD, co-founder of Meala. “We already initiated collaborations with leading plant-based CPG manufacturers to implement Meala’s solution in their products. We are on track to launch products in the US and European markets in 2024.”
Revolutionises plant-based protein alternatives
Meala was founded in 2021 by product innovation specialist Hadar Ekhoiz Razmovich; Tali Feldman Sivan, PhD, a serial entrepreneur and business strategist; and Liran Gruda, CIO and culinary chef.
The startup’s core technology enables the development of functional proteins for multiple meat replacements, including burgers, sausages, and nuggets with egg and fish alternatives in development.
To deliver the same full-bodied flavour and texture as real meat, its plant-based alternatives include a short list of simple, recognisable “home kitchen” ingredients. The platform works with a versatile range of plant proteins. Further, the Meala solution can be easily integrated into CPG products through existing manufacturing lines.
The Israeli-tech’s multi-functional proteins vastly improve the texture of meat alternatives to mimic the qualities of real meat. Its proprietary platform creates functional proteins. These are designed to be used as binding and gelling agents as they posses superior water retention capabilities.
By using a short list of ingredients, formulators can enhance the nutritional value and functional properties of meat analogues.
