Terramino Foods Raises $4.25 Million in Seed Funding for High-Protein Product Line
Food startup to scale product development and launch exclusive tasting dinners to include their first product, a 'salmon' burger that rivals the real thing
SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, food startup Terramino Foods announced a $4.25 million seed funding round co-led by True Ventures and Collaborative Fund. The company will use the new funds to expand their team and continue to develop sustainable protein products, which provide an alternative to meat and seafood.
Global meat consumption is rapidly increasing, taking a large toll on the environment due to inefficiencies in resources and energy used. Instead, Terramino Foods uses sustainably grown fungi as a source of protein that provides the taste, texture, and nutrition of seafood and meat. Terramino products are produced using a method that is significantly more energy and resource efficient than that of conventional meat.
Co-Founders Kimberlie Le and Joshua Nixon developed Terramino's prototype at the Alternative Meat Lab at UC Berkeley's Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. Terramino's first product is a sustainable and delicious salmon burger that not only looks, smells and tastes like salmon, but also has omega-3 fatty acids and is high in digestible protein, unlike many plant-based meats. Their product line will be all-natural, non-GMO and completely animal free. "Our fungi naturally grow in a fibrous texture that feels like meat when you chew it," said Nixon, the company's CTO.
Recently, Le and Nixon were part of Indie Bio, the world's leading biotech accelerator that helps scientists become entrepreneurs. There, they received initial funding and product development support. "We plan to expand into multiple seafood and meat products using our flexible and efficient protein platform," said Le, who will be leading the company as CEO.
"We are proud to support Kim and Josh on their mission to bring great-tasting, healthy and sustainable, new foods to customers," said Adam D'Augelli, partner at True Ventures. "The team's differentiated technology and scientific approach have enabled them to create products that are both delicious and in line with the tastes and textures the consumer expects."
"Terramino has identified a protein platform that has massive potential because of its unique texture and ability to substitute for many different animal proteins," said Lauren Loktev, partner at Collaborative Fund. "As avid investors in meat alternatives, we were blown away by the taste and texture of Terramino's salmon burgers and we're excited to support Kim and Josh as they build a world class team to create a new category in food."
Terramino will be showcasing its products in a series of tasting events over the coming months. There are also multiple career opportunities available to those interested in joining Le and Nixon in reimagining protein for a sustainable future. Sign up to be informed of Terramino's upcoming tastings or view job listings at www.terramino.com.
About Terramino Foods
At Terramino Foods, we believe in a food system that nourishes people and the planet. Our hunger for change led us to the delicious discovery of protein from fungi that can be transformed into products that have the same taste, texture, and nutrition of animal-based meats. Our products are tasty, protein-rich alternatives to meat and seafood – and a small bite of the change we envision. For more on Terramino, visit: www.terramino.com.
About True Ventures
Founded in 2005, True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups. With more than $1.4 billion under management, True provides seed and Series A funding to the most talented entrepreneurs in today's fastest growing markets. To date, True has helped more than 250 companies launch and scale their businesses, creating over 10,000 jobs worldwide. To learn more about True Ventures, visit www.trueventures.com.
About Collaborative Fund
Collaborative Fund is a New York and SF based venture capital firm backing companies moving the world forward. Operating on the principle that the best investment opportunities sit at the intersection of for-profit and for-good, Collaborative Fund has made more than 130 investments since its founding in 2010. Its investments include Lyft, Quora, Reddit, Kickstarter, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Beyond Meat. To learn more about Collaborative Fund, visit www.collaborativefund.com.
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SOURCE Terramino Foods
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