Our Investment in Jellatech: the Future of Sustainable Proteins

We are thrilled to share news of our recent investment in Jellatech, a US-based biotech startup that is pioneering a revolutionary new way to produce complex proteins sustainably and ethically.

Increasingly, complex chemical compounds are being produced by harnessing biology and the power of cells. Insulin and many other medical compounds are already produced at scale using fermentation and yeast cells. However, larger molecules, such as complex proteins, are too intricate for fermentation, and too chemically complex to be produced from scratch. Right now, the only way we have as a species to get hold of these molecules in large quantities is to “mine” them from the bodies of dead animals. That’s fundamentally inefficient and leads to large amounts of waste and potential for impurities.

Jellatech’s breakthrough technology enables the production of complex, bio-identical proteins through cellular agriculture, without relying on animals. Using lab-grown cell cultures, they are able to engineer mammalian cells to produce the same proteins found in animal tissues, in a process that is far more sustainable, scalable and ethical, starting with bio-identical collagen.

Collagen is used in vast quantities across the food and medical industries: from the gelatin you might find in everyday candy, to dermal fillers used in medical applications. Further, producing collagen from scratch without potential animal virus contamination unlocks many fundamentally new medical applications that are currently in the early stages of medical trials.

And Jellatech’s technology is not limited to collagen — growing animal cells in labs to produce pure, complex proteins can eventually be applied to any protein!

This technology is truly a game changer and requires relentless execution to drive down costs and scale production. The founder of Jellatech, Stephanie Michelsen, is the perfect person to execute on this grand ambition and reimagine the complex protein industry. She founded Jellatech after working in the biotech startup world and has been dedicating herself and her small team to iterating and scaling the production of collagen. Our Collective member Peter Andersen (founder of Vita Therapeutics) has been instrumental in this investment, and we will be working closely alongside him in supporting Jellatech going forward.

The path ahead is long, but the progress that Stephanie and her team have already made is truly astounding, and the ambition level is sky high. Industry partners have spotted this and are lining up to be the first customers of animal-free collagen and future proteins.

Jellatech’s remarkable technology represents a fundamentally new paradigm in protein production - one that is better for the planet, kinder to animals, and more reliable than current methods. Much like clean meat startups are pioneering the future of ethical, sustainable meat production, Jellatech is spearheading the sustainable complex proteins movement.

As consumers, businesses and regulators around the world wake up to the power and potential of cellular agriculture, we are proud to support the scientists and innovators like Jellatech who are leading the charge. Their work gives us immense hope and excitement for creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all.