Sallea secures US$2.6 million to advance premium cultivated meat and fish production

Cultivated meat and fish have rapidly evolved from a niche concept to a burgeoning industry, with expectations to reach a market value of over US$370 billion by 2030. A key driver of this growth is the ability to replicate the texture and variety of traditional meat products, particularly whole cuts like steaks and fillets. However, to realize this potential, technological advancements in the production process are essential.

Swiss deep-tech startup, Sallea, founded by an all-female team, is addressing this need with its innovative scaffolding technology. The company has announced that it has raised US$2.6 million in a pre-seed funding round, led by Founderful with participation from Kost Capital, to help cultivate premium whole cuts of meat and fish without relying on traditional animal farming. Sallea's breakthrough involves the creation of edible, porous 3D grids, or 'scaffolds', that support cell growth into structured cuts, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional meat production.

This funding round marks Sallea’s first equity investment, building on the US$1.8 million in non-dilutive funding previously secured through research and startup grants. Co-founded in November 2023 by Dr Nicole Kleger, CTO, Simona Fehlmann, CEO, and Anna Bünter, CCO, Sallea’s technology is based on research developed at ETH Zurich. The company's scaffolds are added to bioreactors containing cells, which then attach to the scaffolds and grow into three-dimensional whole cuts. This approach not only improves the texture and nutritional profile of cultivated meat and fish but also allows manufacturers to tailor the size and composition of the final products.

“Cultivated foods have so far been limited to unstructured products like sausages or minced meat. Our technology offers a way to accelerate time to market and reduce production costs for premium whole cuts such as steaks and fillets,” said Fehlmann. “This funding round will enable us to scale up production, enter into strategic partnerships for co-development, and intensify our R&D efforts.”

Sallea’s scaffolding technology addresses a critical gap in the cellular agriculture space, where high-quality meat cuts have been difficult to achieve due to the structural complexity required. While cellular agriculture has been touted as a sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to traditional livestock farming, the industry has struggled to move beyond low-margin, unstructured products like ground meat. Sallea’s innovation promises to unlock the next stage of development, offering cultivators a way to produce whole cuts that meet consumer expectations for taste and texture, while significantly reducing production costs.

Kleger emphasized the importance of their scaffolds in revolutionizing the industry. "We’re focused on providing a scaffold solution that can be adapted for different types of cultivated meat and fish. The porous structure of our scaffolds allows cells to grow in three dimensions, mimicking the structure of traditional cuts of meat," she said.

The pre-seed funding will also support Sallea’s pilot projects with cultivated meat companies worldwide. The company aims to become a leader in providing edible scaffolds, accelerating the shift to more sustainable and scalable methods of animal protein production.

Antonia Albert, Principal at Founderful, expressed excitement about partnering with Sallea, commenting, “Sallea’s technology is unlocking the potential of cultivated meat, paving the way for a future of sustainable, cruelty-free food production. With the cultivated meat market projected to exceed US$370 billion by 2030, we are thrilled to work with Simona, Anna, and Nicole as they lead this transformation.”

Sallea’s solution comes at a pivotal time for the cellular agriculture sector, as the industry moves away from fully integrated value chains towards a more specialized ecosystem. Increasingly, cultivated meat companies are outsourcing key components like cell media and scaffolds. Sallea’s innovation fills a crucial role in this ecosystem, providing a high-quality, customizable scaffold solution for cultivated meat manufacturers.

Robin Matthew, CEO of Elsa-Group (Migros Industrie), a major player in the Swiss dairy and alternative protein industry, sees Sallea’s technology as a critical enabler for the industry’s growth. “While the potential of cellular agriculture is clear, scaling it effectively demands not only capital and expertise but also innovative solutions like Sallea’s. Their scaffolds enable the production of high-quality, structured products, which will be key to achieving price parity and satisfying consumer demand,” Matthew commented.

Dr James Ryall, former Chief Scientific Officer at cultured meat company Vow, added, “With cultivated meat now regulated and consumed globally, the industry is poised for its next leap forward. Sallea is at the forefront of this evolution, developing scaffolds that solve two critical challenges: reducing costs and enhancing structural complexity. Their edible scaffolds open the door to premium cultivated meat products with improved texture, while also significantly lowering production costs. This will give consumers a broader range of sustainable, high-quality protein options.”

The company's proprietary scaffolds not only contribute to the textural integrity of cultivated meat but also offer enhanced nutritional customization. This level of control allows manufacturers to fine-tune the nutritional profiles of the final products, providing an advantage in creating healthier, premium food options that can be tailored to consumer preferences.

Looking ahead, Sallea plans to leverage this new funding to accelerate product development and form strategic partnerships with cultivated meat companies around the world. The company’s goal is to set the industry standard for edible scaffolds, helping to speed the transition to more sustainable and scalable production of animal proteins.

At Kost Capital, General Partner Bodil Sidén is confident in Sallea’s leadership and vision. "We are passionate about improving food systems and are proud to support Sallea. The team’s strong leadership, combined with their innovative technology, positions them to set a new benchmark for sustainable meat production,” she said.