Paleo

Paleo is a Belgian food technology company founded in 2020 by Hermes Sanctorum and Andy de Jong that specializes in producing bio-identical animal proteins through precision fermentation. The company's core focus is on myoglobin, a key protein responsible for the taste, color, and aroma of meat. Paleo produces a portfolio of GMO-free heme proteins that are identical to those found in beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and tuna. The company even recreated the myoglobin of the mammoth.

Co-founder and CEO Hermes Sanctorum is a trained bioengineer with a background in environmental and food chemistry. His drive to improve animal welfare and amplify his impact led him to co-found Paleo. Prior to Paleo, Sanctorum was a member of the Flemish Parliament and the Belgian Senate, where he championed climate action and animal rights. Co-founder Andy de Jong brings experience in both Agro & Food engineering and finance to the company.

Paleo's business model is to supply its myoglobin as a food ingredient to manufacturers of plant-based meat and fish alternatives. This allows these manufacturers to create products that more closely mimic the sensory experience of eating real meat, addressing a key challenge for consumer adoption of plant-based foods. The company's unique selling proposition is its ability to produce these heme proteins without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as the yeast used in their fermentation process secretes the protein, allowing for separation. This satisfies a growing consumer and regulatory demand for GMO-free products. Paleo's technology is also designed to be highly scalable.

The company has secured significant funding to scale its operations. After an initial seed round of €2 million in 2021, Paleo closed a €12 million Series A funding round in February 2023. This round was led by DSM Venturing and Planet A Ventures, with participation from Gimv, SFPIM Relaunch, Beyond Impact, and Siddhi Capital. The funds are intended to help Paleo scale up production, move towards commercialization, and file for regulatory approval in key markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company expanded its global reach by opening an office in Singapore in 2023 and is also exploring the pet food market.

Keywords: precision fermentation, myoglobin, heme protein, meat alternatives, plant-based, food technology, GMO-free, bio-identical protein, food ingredients, sustainable food, alternative protein, cellular agriculture, food tech, animal-free protein, food science, agtech, biotechnology, vegan meat, food production, B2B ingredients, Belgium