Key Takeaways:
- Deeptech startup sallea has raised $2.6M in pre-seed funding to accelerate the production of premium whole cuts of cultivated meat and fish.
- Sallea’s edible scaffolds help manufacturers create structured, textured cuts, improving the variety and nutritional profile of cultivated meat products.
- The funding round was led by Founderful with participation from Kost Capital, following $1.8M in non-dilutive funding.
- The company aims to reduce production costs and time to market for cultivated foods, which are expected to surpass $370 billion by 2030.
Sallea’s Funding and Technology
Sallea, a deeptech startup focused on advancing cultivated meat and fish production, has announced a $2.6M pre-seed funding round. This round, led by Founderful with participation from Kost Capital, aims to help sallea scale up its technology, which allows for the production of structured, whole cuts of meat and fish—such as steaks and filets—without the need for traditional animal farming.
Founded in November 2023 by Dr. Nicole Kleger, Anna Bünter, and Simona Fehlmann, sallea has developed a proprietary technology based on research from ETH Zurich. The company’s innovative edible scaffolds are designed to enable cellular agriculture by providing a 3D grid in bioreactors where cells can grow and form whole cuts. These scaffolds also offer customization in terms of size, shape, and nutritional content, enabling manufacturers to meet specific consumer needs.
Addressing Industry Challenges
Sallea’s technology addresses a key challenge in the cultivated meat industry, which has been limited to producing low-margin, unstructured products like sausages and minced meat. Sallea’s scaffolds make it possible to create whole cuts with improved texture and nutrition, paving the way for premium products. “Our technology has the potential to kick-start cellular agriculture by accelerating time to market and lowering production costs for cultivated whole cuts such as steaks and fillets,” said Simona Fehlmann, CEO and co-founder of sallea.
The company’s scaffolds are designed to address the growing demand for more structured and complex products in the cultivated food sector, which has seen a 50% annual growth and is projected to be worth $370 billion by 2030.
Industry Backing and Future Outlook
The funding round comes at a time when the cellular agriculture industry is evolving, with companies increasingly sourcing specialized components like cell media and scaffolds externally. Antonia Albert, Principal at Founderful, stated, “Sallea unlocks the potential of cultivated meat, paving the way for a sustainable, cruelty-free future.” With increasing consumer interest in sustainable protein sources, sallea’s technology is seen as a crucial enabler for the next phase of cultivated meat development.
Dr. James Ryall, former Chief Scientific Officer at Vow, commented on sallea’s ability to address two critical challenges in the industry: cost reduction and structural complexity. He noted that sallea’s edible scaffolds not only improve texture but also lower production costs, making premium cultivated meat products more accessible to consumers.
With its new funding, sallea plans to ramp up production, enhance development efforts, and initiate pilot projects with companies around the world. The team aims to become a leading provider of edible scaffolds, accelerating the transition to more sustainable and cruelty-free meat and fish production.
Aiming for Industry Leadership
The team at sallea, which includes co-founders Dr. Nicole Kleger (CTO), Simona Fehlmann (CEO), and Anna Bünter (CCO), remains focused on advancing its mission to set the standard for sustainable and safe cultivated meat production. “With strong leadership and groundbreaking technology, sallea is gearing up for success,” said Bodil Sidén, General Partner at Kost Capital. The company’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of a more sustainable global food system by providing the missing link in cellular agriculture.
