Zurich-based foodtech company sallea, which develops specialized structures that mimic natural cell environments for improved in-vitro testing and cellular agriculture, has secured $2.6 million in a pre-seed funding round from Founderful and Kost Capital. This funding will support the advancement of sustainable and cruelty-free meat and fish production through cellular agriculture.
- Founded in 2021 by Simona Fehlman, Anna Bünter, and Nicole Kleger, sallea develops a platform for creating edible scaffolds essential for growing whole cuts of meat and fish. These customizable scaffolds closely mimic natural cell environments, enabling the cultivation of high-quality, textured meat alternatives.
- Sallea’s platform provides precise control over its food-grade, plant-based scaffolds' size, shape, texture, and nutritional profile, allowing for easy customization to meet customer needs. These scaffolds integrate smoothly into existing supply chains and bioreactor systems, improving nutrient transport and cell growth.
Details of the deal
- The pre-seed round was led by Founderful, a Zurich-based venture capital firm supporting Switzerland's tech entrepreneurs, and Kost Capital, a Danish VC that supports biotech startups at the pre-seed and seed stages.
- Sallea will use the funds to scale up its operations and further develop its edible scaffolds for cultured meat production.
"We are humbled and immensely grateful for all the support we received and the relationships we built. The past months have been an amazing journey of development and growth. Let's keep pushing the boundaries of sustainable food systems together," sallea's team, commented on Linkedin.
