Amai Proteins
EMEA
Rehovot
,
Israel
Startup
FOUNDED
2016
HEADCOUNT
21-100
FUNDING
Series B
Keywords:
yeast, precision_fermentation, AI/ML, sweet_proteins, sweeteners, food_protein
BUSINESS
Produces sweet proteins via fermentation as sugar alternatives for food and beverage applications. Founded 2016 in Israel (Rehovot/Ashdod). Develops computationally designed sweet proteins as sugar substitutes via its Pro3 platform, combining AI Computational Protein Design (AI-CPD), precision fermentation, and food technology. Flagship product sweelin is a redesigned monellin-based protein ~3,000x sweeter than sugar, enabling 40-70% sugar reduction in food and beverages. Safety validated in Journal of Applied Toxicology (non-toxic, non-mutagenic, fully digestible). Collaborations with PepsiCo, Danone, and the Technion through EIT Food's "Sugar-out, Prot-In" consortium.
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Core; uses AI Computational Protein Design with Precision Fermentation to create sweet proteins. Core platform is computational protein design coupled with precision fermentation in Pichia pastoris. The AI-CPD platform redesigns naturally occurring sweet proteins for thermostability, pH stability, and food compatibility. At ~3,000x sweetness potency, required protein volumes are small relative to market served (1 kg replaces ~3 tonnes sugar), making fermentation economics favorable.
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
Pro 3 Platform; AI Computational Protein Design (AI-CPD); Precision Fermentation
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Designer Sweet Proteins; sweelin (monellin-based sweet protein)