Berlin-based climate tech startup Project Eaden has closed a €15 million oversubscribed Series A funding round to accelerate the European retail launch of its plant-based meat alternatives. Using proprietary fiber spinning technology inspired by the textile industry, the company aims to produce ultra-realistic plant-based whole cuts, starting with ham, for mainstream consumers.
“Our proprietary tech is versatile across meat types, cheap, and highly scalable”
The Series A round was led by Planet A and REWE Group, with additional support from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Happiness Capital, and AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance. Existing investors FoodLabs and Creandum also participated in the funding round, which brings the company’s total capital raised to €27 million since its founding in 2022.
Commenting on the investment, Christoph Gras, general partner at Planet A, stated: “Research suggests that plant-based products could replace 11–22% of global meat consumption by 2035—but only if improvements are made in taste and texture. Project Eaden is leading this shift with its new fiber technology, which delivers a meat alternative that will appeal even to the most skeptical consumers.”
Retail rollout planned for 2025
Project Eaden plans to use the newly raised funds to scale production, expand its product portfolio, and hire additional talent across operations, engineering, marketing, and sales. Its retail debut will begin in mid-2025 in Germany, where its plant-based ham products will be available at REWE supermarkets nationwide. Ham is a staple product in Germany, with the country’s ham market valued at over €2 billion annually.
Hans-Jürgen Moog, chief procurement officer of REWE Group, explained: “Project Eaden is setting a new standard in alternative meat by delivering the meat-like experience that today’s consumers crave. As a launch partner, we’re excited to bring their innovative products to our stores.”
Tech inspired by textiles
At the core of Project Eaden’s product development is its fiber spinning and compounding technology, which replicates the muscle strands and fats of animal meat using plant-based ingredients such as pea protein. Co-founders Dr. David Schmelzeisen, who holds a PhD in textile engineering, and Jan Wilmking, a former Zalando executive, leveraged this technology to create plant-based meat that matches animal meat in taste, texture, and nutritional profile.
“Our proprietary tech is versatile across meat types, cheap, and highly scalable. We’re here to make the switch away from animal meat consumption a no-brainer,” said Dr. Schmelzeisen.
According to Project Eaden, its plant-based meats provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional meat, with significantly reduced environmental impact. Each kilogram of its product reportedly saves up to 20 kilograms of CO2-equivalent emissions, 56 cubic meters of water, and 20 square meters of land compared to traditional animal-based meats.
A growing footprint in climate tech
Founded in Berlin in 2022, Project Eaden operates with a team of 30 material scientists, mechanical engineers, food technologists, and business professionals. The startup previously raised €10 million in seed funding from Creandum, Magnetic, and FoodLabs, along with €2 million in public grants.
Dr. Elisabeth Schrey, managing partner of DTCF, noted the broader implications of the company’s innovations: “Germany has long been a global leader in innovation and engineering. We are proud to back Project Eaden, whose proprietary high-tech production technology for alternative meats positions them as a shaper of the next generation of German engineering companies.”
