Shiru secures funding to drive AI-based ingredient innovation

Shiru, a company using artificial intelligence (AI) to discover and develop functional ingredients, has raised US$16 million in a Series B funding round. This investment is intended to support its ongoing efforts to create sustainable ingredients for industries such as food, personal care, agriculture, and advanced materials. With this funding round, Shiru’s total investment now stands at US$36 million.

The round was led by S2G Ventures and included participation from CPT Capital, Lux Capital, Nourish Ventures, and Meach Cove Capital. According to Shiru, the funds will be used to expand its AI-powered ingredient discovery platform and grow its partnerships with companies seeking innovative, nature-derived solutions.

At the heart of Shiru’s work is its proprietary platform, ProteinDiscovery.ai. This database-driven tool leverages AI to explore natural proteins sourced from plants and microbes, identifying those with specific functional properties. This enables partners to evaluate and incorporate novel ingredients into their products more efficiently. By reducing time and costs associated with traditional research and development, Shiru aims to provide companies with a competitive edge in developing functional, sustainable ingredients.

Dr Jasmin Hume, Shiru’s Founder & CEO, expressed the importance of AI in driving innovation across sectors. “AI-powered discovery allows us to address complex challenges in ingredient functionality and sustainability,” she said. “This funding will help us expand our work in areas like flavor, skincare, and agriculture, offering practical solutions to industry partners.”

The company has made notable progress in recent years, showcasing its ability to translate AI-driven insights into actionable results. Among its achievements is a collaboration with Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition to explore and scale sweet proteins. These proteins could serve as a natural alternative to sugar, meeting the growing consumer demand for healthier and lower-calorie options.

In addition, Shiru recently introduced OleoPro, a structured fat alternative designed to replace conventional fats in food applications. This innovation addresses both functionality and sustainability, aligning with industry goals to reduce reliance on animal-derived or less sustainable fats. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Shiru a patent for OleoPro, further validating its potential.

Shiru has also established partnerships with companies such as Griffith Foods. Together, they aim to identify, pilot, and scale up ingredients that support sustainability while maintaining high functionality.

While much of Shiru’s focus has been on the food industry, the company sees applications for its technology in other areas as well. By exploring sectors like personal care and agriculture, Shiru hopes to expand the impact of its ingredient discovery platform. These industries face similar challenges in balancing functionality, sustainability, and consumer preferences.

Hume highlighted the flexibility of Shiru’s approach. “We’re not just creating ingredients; we’re providing tools for R&D teams to rethink their processes. AI enables us to explore possibilities that would otherwise be overlooked.”

Sustainability is a key driver for Shiru’s innovations. By focusing on plant- and microbe-based solutions, the company addresses the need to reduce reliance on resource-intensive ingredients such as animal products. This aligns with broader industry trends to develop environmentally friendly and ethical alternatives.

Shiru’s platform also offers the potential to optimize supply chains by providing scalable ingredient solutions. By identifying proteins and other compounds that deliver both functionality and sustainability, Shiru helps companies meet consumer demand for greener products.

With its latest funding, Shiru plans to enhance its AI capabilities and expand its ingredient portfolio. The company will also continue to work closely with partners to bring its discoveries to market. By doing so, it aims to position itself as a leader in AI-driven ingredient development, offering a pathway for companies to innovate responsibly.

Shiru’s approach underscores the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration, combining AI, biology, and industry expertise to solve real-world challenges. While its work is still evolving, the company is well-positioned to influence how ingredients are discovered and utilized across multiple sectors.

This funding round marks an important step in Shiru’s journey, providing the resources needed to expand its capabilities and strengthen its partnerships. By leveraging AI in its ingredient discovery process, Shiru continues to support the industry’s shift toward more sustainable and functional solutions.