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New Culture

Americas

San Francisco

,

United States

Startup

FOUNDED

2018

HEADCOUNT

21-100

FUNDING

Series A

Keywords:

precision_fermentation, food_protein, milk_proteins, dairy, alternative_proteins

BUSINESS

Produces animal-free mozzarella by combining traditional cheesemaking with precision fermentation to replicate conventional dairy cheese functionality. New Culture, founded in 2018 and based in San Leandro, California, uses precision fermentation to produce animal-free casein protein for animal-free mozzarella cheese. Total reported funding is approximately $28.5 million, including a $25 million Series A in 2021 co-led by Ahren Innovation Capital and CPT Capital (with ADM Ventures, Be8 Ventures/Dr. Oetker, Evolv Ventures/Kraft Heinz, Future Ventures, and S2G Ventures), plus a subsequent strategic investment from CJ CheilJedang. CJ CheilJedang is a key partner for manufacturing scale-up and cost reduction.

BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT

Core; San Leandro (2018) precision-fermentation dairy company producing recombinant casein proteins to make animal-free mozzarella in combination with traditional cheesemaking.

TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM

precision fermentation

PRIMARY PRODUCTS

animal-free mozzarella cheese

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