Standing Ovation secures €3.75 million funding and appoints new CEO to scale up production

Imagine a world where cheese, yogurt, and ice cream could be produced without a single cow. This dairy revolution is becoming a reality thanks to innovative companies like Standing Ovation.

The French biotech startup has secured an additional €3.75 million in funding, bringing its total investment to €23 million. This fresh capital will fuel the company's mission to produce animal-free casein, a key protein in dairy products.

New to the helm of this ambitious venture is Yvan Chardonnens, a seasoned CEO with decades of experience in growing global B2B companies. His leadership will be instrumental in scaling up Standing Ovation's production and expanding its reach.

Standing Ovation's technology leverages precision fermentation to create casein that is indistinguishable from its animal-derived counterpart. This process offers a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional dairy production, reducing carbon emissions, water consumption, and land use.

The company's Advanced Casein product is poised to disrupt the dairy industry. It offers the same nutritional value, taste, and functionality as traditional casein while addressing the growing concerns about sustainability and animal welfare.

As Standing Ovation prepares for industrial-scale production, it is set to become a major player in the food-tech revolution. By providing a sustainable and delicious alternative to dairy products, the company is helping to shape a more environmentally friendly and compassionate future.

"Feeding 10 billion people while reducing CO₂ emissions in a world where water and arable land resources are growing scarcer is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century," said Laetitia de Panafieu, a representative of Astanor Ventures on Standing Ovation’s Supervisory Board. "Tackling this will require new groundbreaking solutions. In light of this, we are proud to support Standing Ovation, the only market player to have mastered fermentative casein production. Soon they will be able to produce on an industrial scale, meeting the needs of both the agrifood industry and consumers. We are excited to see the first dairy products based on Advanced Casein distributed worldwide,"

"The Standing Ovation team is really fortunate to be able to count on Yvan’s experience as we begin this new chapter together," commented Romain Chayot, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Standing Ovation. "After four years of research and innovation to fine-tune our industrial manufacturing and production process, the time has come to accelerate towards mass production and distribution of Advanced Casein in the global agrifood market. Yvan has a reputation as a pioneer in developing new products that meet both industrial challenges and consumer demand. Our respective areas of expertise are a perfect fit, and will enable Standing Ovation to become the global leader in alternative proteins and a key player in the food transition."

"I am excited to be joining such an innovative company at the forefront of its sector, with the potential to have a positive impact on our food ecosystems and deliver solutions to climate challenges," said Yvan Chardonnens, CEO of Standing Ovation. "In just four years under Romain’s leadership, Standing Ovation has hit key technological, operational, and financial milestones, paving the way for the next phase of industrial-scale growth. Together, our priority will be to step up our development by obtaining the necessary regulatory approval, strengthening our go-to-market strategy, and embarking on large-scale industrial production."