SMEY: “We Are Building Synthetic Food Systems — From the Molecule Up”

Viktor Sartakov-Korzhov founded SMEY, a company focused on creating sustainable cultivated oils through precision fermentation and AI technology. Their mission is to offer reliable, climate-resilient alternatives to traditional, environmentally damaging oils like palm and cocoa butter. By using microbial fermentation and AI-driven technologies, SMEY is able to produce oils at scale without relying on deforestation-prone systems, reshaping ingredient sourcing and supply chain practices.

SMEY's Neobank of Yeasts (NOY) is a key innovation, allowing the company to select yeast strains that naturally produce the desired lipid profiles for their oils. This, along with their proprietary AI platform, enables them to predict yield, fatty acid profiles, and texture, significantly reducing R&D timelines. Despite challenges in regulatory approval and market perception, SMEY's cultivated oils, such as their cocoa butter alternative, are gaining traction in industries beyond chocolate, including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The company is working on developing new cultivated fats for various market opportunities, such as high palmitic oil for cosmetics and custom oil blends for specific applications like SPF creams and baking fats, aiming to create cleaner, more resilient supply chains across industries.