Shiru, an innovative startup at the forefront of artificial intelligence in the food and ingredient industry, has successfully closed a $16 million Series B funding round led by S2G Ventures. This investment, which also saw participation from CPT Capital, Lux Capital, Nourish Ventures, and Meach Cove Capital, is set to significantly enhance Shiru’s ProteinDiscovery.ai platform and broaden its ingredient portfolio.
Dr. Jasmin Hume, founder and CEO of Shiru, outlined the multifaceted approach the company will take with its newly acquired funds. The investment will support the expansion of Shiru’s applications into areas including flavor innovation, skincare ingredients, and biopesticides for agriculture. Additionally, the funds will be used to advance the capabilities of the ProteinDiscovery.ai platform and strengthen the company’s intellectual property portfolio, aiming for immediate commercial progress with high-demand protein ingredients.
Shiru’s platform, ProteinDiscovery.ai, represents a transformative leap in ingredient discovery. Utilizing a simple web interface, users can explore a vast database of over 33 million molecules based on protein sequences, functional uses, and expression efficiency in microbial systems. This allows customers to approach Shiru with specific problem statements rather than predefined proteins. For instance, a client might seek a natural emulsifier that performs well in acidic conditions, and Shiru’s advanced machine learning algorithms can identify suitable solutions from its extensive database.
A standout feature of the ProteinDiscovery.ai platform is the “Expressor” tool, which is crucial for determining the viability of producing proteins in microbial systems. Dr. Hume emphasized the importance of this tool, noting that it helps clients avoid the challenges associated with sourcing proteins that may not be suitable for efficient production. Instead, the platform offers a catalog of alternative proteins that can fulfill similar functionalities while expressing better in microbial fermentation processes.
Shiru’s pioneering work has already resulted in the development of OleoPro, its first in-house ingredient. This innovative product combines liquid oils with plant-based proteins identified through the ProteinDiscovery.ai platform to create structured fats that can replace saturated animal fats or tropical oils like palm and coconut oil. OleoPro is solid at room temperature and mimics the properties of animal fat while being significantly healthier, containing 80% less saturated fat. This ingredient is poised to disrupt the market, especially in food and personal care products, by providing a plant-based alternative that aligns with modern consumer preferences for ethical and environmentally friendly options.
In addition to OleoPro, Shiru is also working on a clean label alternative to methylcellulose, a common binder used in plant-based meats that often faces consumer scrutiny due to its unfamiliar name. Dr. Hume indicated that this project is progressing well, with plans to license the intellectual property to a company capable of scaled manufacturing.
The implications of Shiru’s advancements are significant, not only for the startup itself but also for the broader food and cosmetics industries. By harnessing AI for ingredient discovery, Shiru is enabling faster and more cost-effective product development, which can lead to a competitive edge for companies looking to innovate in a rapidly evolving market. The potential applications of Shiru’s technology extend well beyond proteins, hinting at a future where AI-driven ingredient discovery could revolutionize multiple sectors.
As the demand for sustainable, plant-based alternatives continues to rise, Shiru’s progress in developing scalable, market-ready solutions positions it as a key player in the agritech landscape. With its recent funding, the company is well-equipped to expand its reach and impact, driving forward the next generation of ingredient innovation.