Investing in alternative protein

Who has access to this list?

Due to the sensitive nature of investor contact information, GFI limits access to alternative protein startups that are currently fundraising or have previously successfully closed a funding round. Since the investors on this list consented to their contact information being shared only with startups, we cannot grant access to investors or other groups that represent startups (e.g. investment banks, accelerators/incubators). 

Startups can request access to this list by filling out this form, which you are welcome to share with your portfolio companies. All entries will be reviewed by GFI and access will be granted solely to alternative protein startups that are currently fundraising or have previously closed a successful fundraising round.

How can startups contact me through this list? 

Startups may reach out via email using the suggested subject line: “Reaching out via GFI Investor Directory.” If you consented to share your firm’s information but not your email, startups may reach out using the contact form on your website or via LinkedIn. 

Entrepreneurs are notified that it is not permitted to use investor emails from this directory for marketing purposes or mass emailing. If you believe someone is violating this rule, please email startup@gfi.org and GFI will take appropriate action. 

What is GFI’s policy on making introductions between startups and investors? 

In order to ensure that GFI is providing equitable support to all startups and investors, GFI does not make direct introductions between startups and individual investors. Instead, GFI uses the process outlined above to grant fundraising companies access to the Investor Directory. We encourage companies to reach out to investors directly or seek an introduction from outside of GFI. 

How can I edit my information or remove myself from this list? 

Investors can edit their information or remove themselves from this list by contacting us.

GFI’s Company Database lists companies in the alternative protein sector, including details like product focus, location, date founded, and founders. 

The GFIdeas Community is for entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, students, and subject matter experts active in the alternative protein space. The online innovation ecosystem includes: 

• Two online seminars per month covering the science and business of alternative proteins.
• Slack channels, including a private Slack channel exclusively for investors.
• A directory to help community members connect. 

Join the community and follow the events calendar to find upcoming seminars.

The Glasswall Syndicate is a group of venture capitalists, family offices, and individual investors who share a similar investment thesis and want to accelerate mainstream adoption of products and services that remove animals from supply chains. They share resources, including research, contacts, deal flow, analysis, due diligence, and expertise. If you are interested in learning more about joining the Glasswall Syndicate, please fill out this form on their website.

GFI’s State of the Industry Reports are the most comprehensive landscape analyses of alternative proteins to date. Each year, we analyze plant-based meat, eggs, and dairy, cultivated meat, and fermentation-derived alternative proteins. 

These reports outline the exciting developments happening across the alternative protein landscape. We cover top companies in the space, discuss key regulatory updates, scientific innovations, product launches, and sales data. The reports also provide an in-depth analysis of the investment landscape using custom datasets curated by the Good Food Institute. 

In recent years, plant-based sales growth has significantly outpaced overall food sales growth. GFI’s analysis of SPINS retail sales data covers the size and growth of the plant-based market by category and provides side-by-side comparisons with animal product sales. 

Our international market reports and resources showcase the landscape for global investment opportunities in alternative proteins: 

• China Plant-Based Meat Industry Report
• Brazil Plant-Based Meat Industry Report
• Plant-Based Consumer Research – Brazil
• Asian Cropportunities: Supplying raw materials for plant-based meat

Watch our on-demand international plant-based market webinar series: 

• European Plant-Based Market Overview
• Brazilian Plant-Based Market Overview

Subscribe to the Plant-Based Insider monthly newsletter to be notified of future webinars in the series. 

Our no-cost advising services for investors include global and regional market overviews, industry mapping, syndicated retail sales data, and more. Please note that we cannot review materials from individual companies as part of this service. Rather, we provide context for the industry as a whole that can complement your own due-diligence efforts on evaluating individual companies seeking funding. 

To schedule one of these sessions, please email corportate@gfi.org

The alternative protein industry is young and rapidly growing. GFI’s research will help you understand the market white spaces so you can recognize and capitalize on opportunities. 

• Innovation Priorities: Explore the most high-impact areas where innovation is needed to create alternative proteins that are as affordable and delicious as conventional animal products. This list of innovation priorities is synthesized from surveys with over 180 alternative protein stakeholders, from researchers to entrepreneurs.
• Solutions Database: Use the database to discover ideas for new commercial ventures and products, and discover the most high-impact opportunities to fund. GFI’s Solutions Database is routinely updated with solutions with the potential to accelerate the growth of the alternative protein industry.
• Industry Mind Maps: Our plant-based meat and cultivated meat mind maps provide visual representations of ingredients and technologies used to make meat directly from plants or cells. 
• An Ocean of Opportunity action paper: This report highlights why alternative seafood presents both an incredible business opportunity and a much-needed solution to the environmental and food security risks posed by conventional seafood production. 

Technical due diligence is important for investment into any food manufacturing business. The following resources will support you in conducting your own due diligence. 

• Recommended technical questions for cultivated meat due diligence: Use these questions to pressure-test the technical strategy of cultivated meat companies. This list is meant to provide a starting point for technical due diligence. It can and should be modified to fit a given company. 
• Recommended technical due diligence consultants: Find technical experts who are well-positioned to evaluate research strategies and technical teams of companies seeking investment. 

Our Science & Technology team offers no-cost educational sessions to investors seeking to better understand the science of alternative proteins. We cannot comment on specific companies’ technology or review materials from individual companies as part of this service. Rather, we provide context for the industry as a whole to complement your due diligence efforts. 

Note: Due to the large number of requests we receive for these technical education sessions, we offer this service on a case-by-case basis for investors who meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Investors who routinely lead deals at Series A or beyond.
• Investors who typically join the capitalization table at Series B or beyond. 

To request a session, please fill out this form.