Investment Climate Podcast: Randi Wahlsten of Matr Foods Shares How to Get Funded in 2026

In this podcast episode, Randi Wahlsten, CEO and Co-founder of Matr Foods, discusses securing a massive €40M Series A funding led by Nova Holdings and the European Investment Bank. She shares how Matr Foods rejected the asset-light CDMO model out of necessity, achieved a high repurchase rate by targeting high-end culinary partners, and focuses on creating a new food category centered on gut health and fiber rather than direct meat substitution. The discussion also delves into Randi's strategy of pricing for profitability and the importance of the quality of revenue metric over vanity sales data.

Key takeaways from the episode include how the lead investor for Matr Foods came from a non-traditional setting, the strategic choice to build a proprietary industrial-scale production facility due to the lack of existing technology, and the emphasis on customer repurchase rate as a measure of success, rather than deep discounting for initial sales. Randi's insights shed light on the challenges and strategies involved in securing funding for innovative food tech companies like Matr Foods.