Investment Climate Podcast: Sérgio Pinto of Cellva Ingredients on Upcycling Coffee Side-Streams

In this episode of the Investment Climate Podcast, host Alex Shandrovsky interviews Sérgio Pinto, the founder and CEO of Cellva Ingredients. Pinto shares the intense and relentless fundraising journey of his company, including how he turned a critical "no" into a successful Pre-Series A round led by Digibor. Cellva Ingredients focuses on turning Brazil's agricultural side-streams into high-value functional ingredients, with their product Kafkoa derived from upcycled coffee side-streams. Pinto discusses the operational complexities of running a business in both São Paulo and Manaus, as well as navigating regulatory pathways and building a network of local coffee farmers.

Cellva Ingredients is redefining circular nutrition by utilizing coffee husks and byproducts to create premium ingredients. Their market-ready infrastructure, including micro-encapsulation technology, allows them to produce Kafkoa as a cocoa substitute. By operating in the Amazonian coffee corridors, Cellva secures low-cost raw materials and creates sustainable employment for local farmers. This unique approach has helped the company secure funding, build a resilient supply chain, and pave the way for processing thousands of tons of materials annually.