INTAKE, a South Korean food tech company using yeast-based precision fermentation to produce alternative proteins, has raised KRW 13.5 billion (US$9.2 million) in Series C funding.
The round was led by CJ Investment, HB Investment, Woori Venture Partners, KDB Industrial Bank Capital, J Curve Investment, and Wonik Investment Partners. INTAKE plans to use the funding for R&D and global infrastructure expansion for its microbial-based alternative protein business.
Super-protein yeast strain
INTAKE uses precision fermentation-based yeast cultivation to produce protein powders, which serve as a foundation for alternatives to meat, dairy, and eggs. By taking naturally occurring yeast from domestically grown grapes and enhancing it through adaptive evolution, the company has developed a super-protein yeast strain said to contain 1.5 times more protein than conventional yeast.
This protein is now in its early commercialization stage, and INTAKE hopes it could ultimately replace whey protein as a fundamental protein source. The company is currently targeting the KRW 35 trillion global protein market, and plans to enter the North American market in 2026.
INTAKE is also researching the production of hemeprotein, a primary flavor component of meat, using CRISPR-based gene editing and expression in native strains. Additionally, the company is developing egg white albumin through precision fermentation.
Alternative protein solutions
Founded in 2013, INTAKE specializes in B2C alternative food products and B2B alternative protein solutions. Led by food science entrepreneurs from Seoul National University, the company has successfully developed and commercialized several patented food ingredients.
Last year, INTAKE achieved KRW 22.4 billion (US$15.2 million) in revenue with a 30% annual growth rate, and was elected as the primary institution for a KRW 6 billion (US$4.1 million) government-funded national research project on alternative seafood technologies.
“This Series C funding is proof that our alternative food technologies and products have earned consumer and market trust,” said INTAKE CEO Nokyeob Han. “Our goal is to finalize the development of core microbial-based alternative food technologies, positioning them as a viable alternative to the conventional food industry.”
