DAIZ

About DAIZ

DAIZ Inc. is a Japanese food-tech company founded in December 2015 by Tsuyoshi Ide, a serial entrepreneur. The company, formerly known as "Daizu Energy," is headquartered in Kumamoto City. It focuses on developing and producing plant-based meat alternatives to address global issues like a potential protein crisis and the environmental impact of the livestock industry. The company's core innovation is a proprietary technology called the "Ochiai Germination Method," invented by Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Koji Ochiai. This process involves controlling environmental factors like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and temperature to apply stress to germinating soybeans. This method enhances enzyme activity, significantly increasing the soybeans' nutritional content, including amino acids like glutamic acid and arginine, which are responsible for the umami flavor of meat. The process uses whole, high-oleic soybeans, which helps to reduce the distinct smell and taste often associated with soy products. The resulting ingredient is trademarked as 'MIRACLE MEAT'. DAIZ operates as a raw material company, producing "miracle chips" from these germinated soybeans, which serve as the foundation for plant-based meat and fish alternatives. Its business model is centered on supplying these ingredients to food manufacturers, restaurant chains, and retailers. The company has formed partnerships with major players, including a collaboration with Roquette to develop pea-based proteins and joint developments with companies like Ajinomoto and Nichirei Foods. It also supplies products to retailers like 7-Eleven Japan. Beyond meat alternatives, DAIZ is also developing alternative eggs and dairy products. The company has seen significant financial backing, raising over JPY 13.1 billion (approximately US$86.5 million) in total capital, making it one of the most well-funded food-tech startups in Japan. It has conducted multiple funding rounds, including a Series C that raised ¥7.1 billion (about $47 million). This capital is being used to construct a new 40,000-square-foot production plant in Kumamoto, which is slated to be the largest plant-based meat factory in Japan with an initial annual output of 8,000 tons, eventually expanding to 20,000 tons. DAIZ is expanding internationally, having established a subsidiary in Boston, USA, in May 2021 and a European Germination Food-Tech Center in the Netherlands to develop hybrid dairy products. The company's name itself is a blend of the Japanese words for 'soybean' and 'artificial intelligence', reflecting its approach of combining traditional food sources with technology. Keywords: plant-based meat, food-tech, soy protein, germination technology, meat alternative, sustainable food, Ochiai Germination Method, MIRACLE MEAT, plant-based ingredients, food manufacturing, alternative protein, vegan, vegetarian, ESG, meat substitute, hybrid dairy, fish alternative, egg alternative, high-oleic soybeans, sustainable protein