IndieBio, a San Francisco-based biotech accelerator program,
has put out a call for scientists and entrepreneurs interested in developing
cultured meat, milk, and egg products. The program has already helped launch Muufri, creators of cultured milk, and Clara Foods, which is developing
animal-free egg whites.
Now, IndieBio is
offering up to $250,000 in seed funding, as well as four months of free
office space and lab equipment in its accelerator building, to more startups
looking to create cultured animal products.
Early applications are welcomed by June
30, with a final application deadline of July 31. Though teams are
preferred, IndieBio is also interested in matching up individual scientists
with individual entrepreneurs.
Research into cultured animal products, which use tissue
cells, proteins, and other basic biological components to create perfectly
identical but cruelty-free versions of standard animal fare, has grabbed
headlines in recent years. In 2013, the
world’s first cultured burger debuted to positive reviews at a
highly publicized launch event in London. While the inaugural patty came with a
whopping price tag of $325,000, Smithsonian.com reported earlier this year that
the
price of cultured meat is expected to drop dramatically in coming years.
IndieBio and its venture capital backers are helping launch
the first wave of startups that will bring cultured products to market. This move could spare billions of future animals from a lifetime of misery as
biotech food companies replace cruel and unsustainable factory
farms. If you or someone you know has what it takes to be a part of that
food revolution, consider applying
for funding or contacting
IndieBio Program Director Ryan Bethencourt before the deadline hits!