Thirteen plant-based food and drink start-ups have joined ProVeg Incubator’s alternative protein programme, including for the first time a Ukrainian company.
Green Go, the Kyiv-based start-up, specializes in plant-based alternatives to burgers, steak cutlets and cheese. Its mission is to increase the diversity, flavour, accessibility and affordability of plant-based products. Its portfolio includes GreenChicken Farsh and GreenFish Farsh – alternatives to chicken and fish mince.
“It is particularly pleasing to see a start-up from Ukraine joining us at a time when the country is struggling under the horrors of war. We are both humbled and delighted to have Green Go on board and wish them every success,” comments Albrecht Wolfmeyer, head of the world-renowned alt-protein accelerator programme.
Joining the Ukraine are start-ups from Nigeria, Mexico, Romania, Chile, Lithuania, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Singapore, the USA and the UK.
“Our new cohort has a strong focus on sustainable, nutritious and clean-label animal-free food solutions and ingredients. They are leveraging exciting ingredients like seaweed and mycoprotein and technologies like 3D-bioprinting to take taste and texture to a new level. The thirteen selected start-ups cover the most impactful new food categories – from meat to seafood and cheese alternatives,” adds Wolfmeyer. “They target nascent markets for alternative proteins like Nigeria and Mexico, as well as new audiences like the growing group of [ageing] consumers in Asia.”
This ninth edition of the ProVeg Incubator accelerator programme runs throughout autumn, exclusively supporting companies which are working to transform the global food system. Participants are supported by one-to-one expert mentoring, have access to the Incubator’s extensive networks and can benefit from up to €250,000 in funding and in-kind services. Since its launch in 2018 the ProVeg Incubator has helped over 80 start-ups from around the world to collectively raise more than €250 million and gain listings in over 15,000 stores globally. As part of ProVeg International, the Incubator is committed to reducing the consumption of animal products by 50% by 2040.
