Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the food industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked startups developing functional food ingredients.
Out of 954, the Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Functional Food Ingredients
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 2 093 000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 954 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 food startups that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 949 functional food ingredients, get in touch.
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Rubisco Foods produces Plant-based Protein Powder
Proteins are an important source of nutrition for the body as they enable muscle building, healing, weight regulation, and more. meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and butter are among the most widely used sources of protein but are not always healthy. For this reason, startups are creating protein ingredients based on plants that provide the same or superior nutrition value as animal-based protein.
Dutch startup Rubisco Foods extracts proteins from water lentils. Their product, WLPC‐75, is a concentrate with 75% protein content along with essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and micronutrients. Additionally, it is tailored to cater to allergen‐free, non‐GMO food formulations with high water solubility and water binding (gelation) properties. The startup’s protein concentrate provides the food industry with a natural and healthy taste enhancer for savory products, such as soups and sauces, dressings, meat replacements, and bakery products.
Ecovatec provides High-Density Lipopeptides
Lipopeptides find use in the food industry as emulsifiers to process raw materials, control the aggregation of fat globules as well as maintain texture and stability. Most people’s diets include sources of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which causes a buildup of plaque in artery walls, leading to a higher risk of heart problems. This is why startups are developing high-density lipopeptide ingredients for use in nutritional food products.
Canadian startup Ecovatec offers a powder product containing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) molecules. EcovaPure HDLp contains proteins hydrolyzed to remove phosvitin along with healthy fats such as omega 3, 6, and 9 as well as phospholipids. The product is extracted from eggs without the use of any harsh solvents, high temperatures, or high pressures that would denature it. The resulting ingredient reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, making it ideal for nutraceutical supplements, functional foods, and sports nutrition products.
Cubiq Foods manufactures Omega-3 Functional Fat
While fat may be viewed negatively, they are essential in the development of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the body. Fish oils are a good source of healthy fats such as omega-3 which prevents heart diseases and lowers blood pressure. However, fish oil supplements have their own negative effects such as heartburn belching, nausea, and stomach discomfort, largely due to the high content of fat. Startups are providing healthy alternatives to fish-based fat that maintain all the nutritional value while removing the risk of side effects.
Cubiq Foods is a Spanish startup that specializes in the cultivation of fats on industrial scales. The startup uses a duck-based cell-culture platform to produce high-quality omega-3 sustainably while also serving as a scalable alternative to fish or algae oil production. Its Go!Mega3 is a micro-encapsulated omega-3-enriched algae oil with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved health claims. Moreover, the product contains the minimum dose of DHA and EPA required by the body to improve cardiovascular and nervous system health. Go!Mega3 finds application as a novel food ingredient or nutraceuticals.
Hpe Ingredients develops Peptide Hydrolysates
The market for dietary supplements is experiencing a significant boost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As people lead more sedentary lifestyles and limit their outdoor exposure, they look towards nutritional supplements and ingredients to complement their diets. Proteins offer a natural alternative to regulate blood pressure and reduce dependence on pharmaceutical medicines. This has resulted in startups using biotechnology to develop functional protein-based ingredients for use in the food industry.
French startup Hpe Ingredients develops Helipept, a peptide hydrolysate product. Helipept is a natural extract of snail flesh that has an inhibiting effect on the angiotensin-converting enzyme, thereby controlling blood pressure. The powder has a long storage life of up to 18 months and finds applications in both human and animal dietary supplements.
Erbology offers Ayurvedic Herbal Powders
Plant-based food are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also free of cholesterol and contain low amounts of calories. However, most plant-based supplements or ingredients blend chemicals, preservatives, or other chemical agents that mitigate these health benefits. To overcome this, startups are providing powered ayurvedic food ingredients that are fully plant-based and contain high nutritional value.
British startup Erbology creates a range of organic, fully plant-based single-ingredient drinks, powders, and oils. The startup’s ayurvedic powder range of products includes organic turmeric, amla fruit, and ashwagandha root powder that are vegan, contain no additives, and are GMO- and gluten-free. Its products serve as ingredients to create highly nutritional drinks and also provide the food industry with access to ayurvedic food ingredients.
Discover more Food Tech Startups
Food startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on alternative proteins, natural ingredients, and nutraceuticals. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing the food industry, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more food technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free FoodTech Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
