Started in the Netherlands but now California-based, Plantible Foods produces lemna, a versatile plant-based protein ingredient that promises health and sustainability. Plantible Foods recently completed their pre-seed funding round with Unshackled Ventures, an early-stage venture capital that funds immigrant-founded startups.
Using environmentally friendly indoor aqua farms, Plantible Foods grows lemna, a fast-growing protein source. Since the plant can be harvested on a daily basis, this allows for efficient protein extraction of the ingredient that can then be used to replace virtually any non-plant based protein. The Plantible Foods founders, Tony Martens and Maurits van de Ven, plan to use the undisclosed funded amount to complete the plant’s propriety extraction technology and commercialize the ingredient by working with leading food companies.
The protein is white, odorless, and does not have a taste, adding to its versatility. The ingredient is also allergen friendly and more digestible than pea, soy, or algae, other plant-based protein sources.
“Plantible Foods is not only a high-protein alternative to traditional sources, but it’s also good for the environment,” states Manan Mehta, general partner of Unshackled Ventures. “It’s incredible what the founding team has been able to do on non-arable land with a fraction of the water requirement as compared to alternative plant-based proteins. We are excited to add another socially and economically conscious investment in our portfolio. We look to help them succeed faster in the U.S.”
