Liven Proteins develops animal-free protein ingredients using synthetic biology and precision fermentation to improve the taste and texture of plant-based foods. The company utilizes under-utilized agricultural side streams as feedstock to grow engineered microorganisms, enabling scalable and sustainable protein production. This process supports a circular economy in the food industry by converting food waste into functional ingredients.
Funding
$110K raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
OGFounders
Product
Problem
The plant-based food industry faces challenges in replicating the taste, texture, and cooking properties of animal-based products. Current plant-based formulations often lack the functional proteins necessary to achieve desired characteristics like proper gelling, emulsification, and texture changes during cooking. Additionally, significant food waste occurs in the agriculture and food processing sectors, representing an untapped resource.
Solution
Liven addresses these challenges by producing animal-free protein ingredients through precision fermentation. The company utilizes engineered microorganisms to convert under-utilized plant-based materials, including food processing side streams, into functional proteins. These proteins are designed to improve the taste, texture, and cooking experience of plant-based foods, enabling them to better mimic animal-based counterparts. Liven's technology promotes a circular economy by transforming food waste into valuable protein ingredients, contributing to a more sustainable food system. The protein ingredients are purified to eliminate off-odors and ensure a clean label.
Target Audience
Liven's primary customers are plant-based food manufacturers seeking to improve the functionality, taste, and texture of their products, as well as companies interested in sustainable and circular food production practices.
Features
- Production of animal-free protein ingredients via precision fermentation
- Utilization of engineered microorganisms to convert plant-based materials into functional proteins
- Focus on improving the taste, texture, and cooking properties of plant-based foods
- Development of protein ingredients with specific gelling strength and emulsification properties
- Scalable fermentation process using large-scale fermenters
- Purification process to eliminate off-odors and ensure clean label
- Focus on enabling a circular economy by using side streams from food processing industries