Upgrain upcycles barley side streams from breweries into high‑protein, high‑fiber ingredients using a mechanical separation and drying process. The resulting Swiss‑made protein, classic, TVP and flakes products deliver low‑carbon, non‑GMO, kosher and halal certified alternatives to soy and pea proteins. Their upcycled ingredients support circular food systems and reduce environmental impact.
Funding
$26.5K 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.
Founders
Product
Problem
The food industry faces challenges in managing and valorizing byproducts from brewing processes, leading to potential waste and lost opportunities for sustainable ingredient sourcing. Traditional protein sources like soy and pea protein have significant environmental footprints, creating a need for more eco-friendly alternatives.
Solution
UpGrain employs a mechanical separation and drying process to upcycle brewers' spent grain (BSG) into high-protein and high-fiber powders suitable for various food applications. This approach transforms a brewery byproduct into valuable raw materials, promoting a circular economy and reducing food waste. The resulting powders offer a sustainable, plant-based alternative to conventional protein sources, boasting a significantly lower environmental impact. UpGrain's technology gently processes the spent grain to preserve its nutritional components, creating versatile ingredients for the food industry.
Target Audience
UpGrain serves food manufacturers seeking sustainable and functional ingredients, as well as breweries looking for solutions to valorize their byproducts.
Features
- Mechanical separation and drying process to preserve valuable components of spent grain
- Production of high-protein (45%) and high-fiber (70%) powders
- Powders with a minimum of carbohydrates
- Upcycled ingredients that are 90% more environmentally friendly than soy or pea protein
- Customizable powder characteristics to meet specific application requirements