South Korea’s INTAKE Secures $9.2M for Alt Proteins Made With Yeast-Based Precision Fermentation

South Korean food tech company INTAKE has secured $9.2 million in Series C funding to further develop its alternative proteins made using yeast-based precision fermentation. The company's unique super-protein yeast strain, which contains 1.5 times more protein than conventional yeast, is being commercialized and has the potential to replace whey protein in the market. INTAKE is also working on producing hemeprotein and egg white albumin through precision fermentation, with plans to enter the North American market by 2026.

Founded in 2013, INTAKE specializes in B2C alternative food products and B2B alternative protein solutions. The company has achieved significant revenue growth and has been selected for government-funded national research projects on alternative seafood technologies. INTAKE's CEO, Nokyeob Han, sees the Series C funding as validation of their technology and products, with the goal of establishing microbial-based alternative food technologies as a competitive option in the food industry.