Check out what some of the FoodTech 500 Alumni have been up to lately:
AMAI PROTEINS | Receives a ‘no questions’ letter from the US FDA for Sweelin, a calorie-free ingredient produced via precision fermentation. The company can now enter commercialisation discussions with partners, as it has been cleared to use it as a general sweetener in food and beverages. Read more
LETTUS GROW | Joins the £2.4M QuBOOSTR consortium to develop UK-based rubber production from dandelions. The initiative was led by QuberTech in collaboration with the John Innes Centre and supported through the UK Government’s Farming Innovation Programme with Innovate UK. Read more
ŸNSECT | Enters administration following prolonged financial and operational challenges, with the Tribunal de Commerce of Evry placing the company under closer judicial oversight as it seeks solutions to ongoing liquidity constraints. Read more
VGREENS | Receives over €476,000 in funding for its LiqBotanics project through the Grüne Gründung competition in Germany. The grant will support the development of its AI-driven, bioreactor-based tissue culture platform. Read more
KULA BIO | Launches Kula-NSP and Kula-NextSP, two dry, soluble nitrogen-fixing products that eliminate cold storage and extend shelf life. Kula-NSP is OMRI-certified for organic farming, while Kula-NextSP is designed for conventional agriculture. Read more
PHYTOLON | Receives FDA approval for its beetroot-derived natural red dye produced via precision fermentation. The color is available in liquid and powdered formats for applications including bakery, savory, frozen, dairy, and confectionery products, offering a natural alternative to Red Dye No. 3. Read more
BOOMITRA | Issues 3.03 million Verra-verified soil carbon credits from its Northern Mexico Grassland Restoration Project, marking the largest such project in history and the first in North America verified under Verra’s VM0042 methodology. Read more
FORK FARMS | Expands access to fresh, locally grown produce with its compact growing units, Flex Farm, now across some U.S. public schools. Read more
AIR UP | Launches Dragonfruit-Lychee scent pods that make plain water taste flavoured using aroma alone, without sugar, sweeteners, or additives. Read more
HELLOFRESH | Opens the “No-Need-To-Go-To-The-Store” store at Antwerp Central Station, offering commuters grab-and-go meal kits for two people at €9.90, including recipe cards. The goal is to help commuters during evening rush hour to choose nutritious, homemade meals on busy workdays. Read more
HOWGOOD | Partners with Green Project Technologies to help organizations accelerate supplier engagement, improve Scope 3 emissions data quality, and advance decarbonization efforts across global supply chains. Read more
CROPIN | Launches Cropin Ecosystem, a plug-and-play model to help agri-food businesses navigate challenges including data interoperability, climate-change risks, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainties affecting fresh produce availability, operational margins, and sustainability compliance. Read more
KYNDA | Opens a new 720-square-meter combined R&D and manufacturing hub in Germany to advance its biotech-based ingredient platform. Read more
HERITABLE AGRICULTURE | Receives a $4.98M grant from the Gates Foundation to develop a cloud-based AI genomics engine that mines ancient and modern crop genomes to identify functional gene targets, dramatically accelerating the discovery and deployment of climate-resilient germplasm. Read more
FOREVERLAND | Scales its cocoa-free chocolate alternative Choruba® across Europe through new partnerships with established confectionery manufacturers Incom Leone, Walcor, Maxtris, and Dulciar. Learn more
OISHII | Brings its specialty Japanese strawberries to the Toronto market, with the Koyo Berry now available at select Fortinos across Ontario. Read more
ECOBLOOM | Partners with New Growing System to integrate its AI-powered EcoSense™ platform with hydroponic and aeroponic greenhouse infrastructure to improve yield consistency and reduce water and nutrient waste. Joint pilots and commercial implementations are planned from 2026 onward. Read more
REVO FOODS | Partners with USA-based Atlantic Fish Co to combine cell-cultivated whitefish cells with structured mycoprotein as a scalable whole-cut seafood format. Read more
UPSIDE FOODS | Launches Lucius Labs, a new division offering cell culture media, buffers, stem cell formulations, and analytics services to the life sciences industry. Read more
The company also steps into the global spotlight after a visit by high-profile content creator MrBeast, who toured its EPIC site and tried its cell-based poultry on camera, a moment that exposed the concept of cultivated meat to millions of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Read more
BIOTALYS | Partners with 21st.BIO to accelerate the commercial production of its AGROBODY™ protein-based biocontrol solutions at competitive costs. Read more
SOLAR FOODS | Completes a directed share issue of 5,154,691 new shares, raising €25M to move closer to the final investment decision for Factory 02, its first industrial-scale production facility. Read more
INNOVAFEED | Signs a commercial partnership with NaturAlleva to integrate Black Soldier Fly Larvae ingredients into feed for sea bass, sea bream, sturgeon, and trout. Commercial-scale deployment across Mediterranean aquaculture has already started last month. Read more
INNOCENT MEAT | Raises €6M to develop its automated production platform and build a demonstration facility. The funding will also support scalable infrastructure and regulatory approvals ahead of a planned 2028 market entry. Read more
TEMPTY FOODS | Secures listings in 128 Coop Denmark stores, including selected Kvickly and SuperBrugsen locations. This marks its largest retail launch to date as it scales national distribution. Read more
ALEPH FARMS | Partners with Singapore-based Cell Agritech to scale production using an asset-light model. Singapore will serve as its regional hub while leveraging Malaysia for manufacturing scale and cost efficiency. Read more
The company also successfully used its proprietary animal-free growth medium to cultivate bovine cells developed by fellow FoodTech 500 alum ROSLIN TECHNOLOGIES, confirming strong performance and demonstrating platform flexibility and transferability. Read more
AEROFARMS | Extends its potential shutdown timeline to February 27, 2026, after securing additional short-term funding. Read more
MAIA FARMS | Raises CA$3.75M in an oversubscribed seed equity round to support scaling commercial production, expanding the portfolio of commercially available ingredients, and deepening partnerships with food manufacturers and ingredient distributors. Read more
JUST EGG | Expands into Europe with its first retail launch in Germany. The plant-based egg alternative is now available in around 280 REWE stores across select regions, with plans for further distribution across the country later this year. Read more
GOODDOT | Partners with Hilton to host a Pan-India Plant Protein Culinary Festival across 32 hotels in India to showcase plant-based meat that delivers on taste, texture, and indulgence. Read more
AKORN TECHNOLOGY & FLYBOX | Are among four winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge’s third edition, sharing a US$2M prize and receiving pilot opportunities, access to research facilities, market-entry guidance, mentorship, and investor introductions. Read more
HOOKED FOODS | Closes operations after seven years of developing plant-based seafood alternatives. Read more
VARAHA | Secures a major offtake agreement with Microsoft for biochar carbon removal in India, calling for over 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ removal across 3 years through 18 industrial gasification reactors operating for 15 years. Read more
The company also raised US$20M as the first close of a planned US$45M Series B round to support its expansion across Asia and Africa and deepen partnerships with industrial operators and global buyers. Read more
MÖ FOODS | Raises £2.1 million to scale its proprietary production technology and prepare for international expansion of its oat-based cheese alternatives. Read more
The company also won a vegan cheese competition by Lidl and ProVeg Incubator, securing a German retail launch for its oat-based feta-style alternative. Read more
NEW WAVE BIOTECH | Partners with Temasek-owned Nurasa to accelerate sustainable food and ingredient innovations from R&D to market-ready products. Read more
EDIBLE GARDEN | Adds new Urban Market and DUMBO Market locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan to its retail network. Read more
The company has also grown its presence in the US Northeast with its Gourmet Greens now available through major retailer Hannaford. Read more
TIME-TRAVELLING MILKMAN | Secures €700,000 in funding for its Sunflopro project, a multi-year innovation program in collaboration with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, to valorize sunflower side streams into high-quality plant protein powder. Read more
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