TurtleTree Labs is using an exclusive technology to produce real milk from animal cells
TurtleTree Labs chief scientist Rabail Toor (Credit: PRNewswire / TurtleTree Labs)
TurtleTree Labs, a Singapore-based producer of milk from cells, has secured pre-seed funding under the round led by Lever VC.
The other participants in the round include KBW Ventures and K2 Global. TurtleTree Labs is co-founded by CEO Fengru Lin, CSO Rabail Toor and chief strategist Max Rye.
TurtleTree Labs is claimed to be the world’s first cell-based milk company using technology for the creation of real milk from animal cells and with no animal required.
Lever VC founder and managing director Nick Cooney said: “What TurtleTree Labs is doing is fascinating, and their technology could be a serious disruptor in the global dairy industry.
“They are the first company in the world producing real, whole milk from cell cultivation — which opens the door for safer, healthier and customized dairy products that can be produced with far fewer natural resources.”
TurtleTree’s technology uses mammary cells to produce real and full milk
The company has developed an exclusive technology, which uses mammary cells to produce real and full milk in clean food production facilities.
According to the company, the end product is the same as human breast milk and cow milk and will be marketed as a food product.
TurtleTree will use the funds to further expand its scientific team, in addition to creating more prototypes.
The firm is planning to launch the world’s first cultivated milk product in the spring.
K2 Global founder Ozi Amanat said: “The next level of disruption will come from food technology companies solving heath and sustainability at a mass level. TT is solving for an important gap in the food chain at a critical time in history.”
In December 2019, New Zealand-based co-operative dairy group Fonterra acquired a stake of 13.6% in Prolesur, a Chile-based milk processor, from Fundación Isabel Aninat for NZD29.3m ($19.3m).
Prolesur is a southern Chile-based milk processor that sells most of its production to Soprole, a consumer branded dairy company in the country. Fonterra also owns 99.9% stake in Soprole.