London, UK – Adamo Foods, a pioneering UK-based food tech startup, has just closed a $2.5M Seed round, co-led by UK Innovation Science and Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital and Joyful Ventures.

This funding will propel Adamo’s mission to introduce the first ultra-realistic beef steak alternative made from fungi, addressing the growing consumer demand for better quality, healthier, and cleaner meat alternatives.

Adamo’s new steak is set to disrupt the burgeoning whole-cut meat alternatives market, which has long lacked innovation despite whole-cuts making up 85% of real meat consumption globally.

As plant-based meat sales experience fluctuations, surveys indicate consumers are increasingly seeking tastier, more authentic products with clean labels — 81% are concerned about ultra-processed foods.

With its proprietary fermentation process, Adamo Foods produces long, densely packed fibers of mycelium, closely replicating the muscle structure of whole-cut meat. This breakthrough technology results in a tender, flavorful fungi steak made from just five natural ingredients, free from plant off-notes and artificial binders like methylcellulose.

The Adamo Steak is also nutritionally superior, being high in protein and fiber, with zero cholesterol, and boasts an impressive 93% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional beef.

Pierre Dupuis, Founder and CEO of Adamo Foods, commented:

“This is a pivotal moment for Adamo. We’re thrilled to have such experienced investors with deep foodtech expertise on board. This funding will allow us to scale our production to pilot-scale and bring our clean-label products closer to consumers.”

Milo Runkle, Co-founder and General Partner at Joyful Ventures, who will join Adamo Foods’ Board, added:

“Adamo Foods represents the future of alternative protein companies. We are excited to support the team in scaling their sustainable and healthy protein alternatives.”

Hassan Mahmudul, Investment Manager at UKI2S said:

“Adamo’s whole-cut meat product has the potential to be highly differentiated in the market compared to current plant-based alternatives. I am excited to see this product in the market.”

The fresh capital will not only scale production but also expand Adamo’s team with senior food industry experts and broaden its product range to include steak and chicken breast alternatives, all while maintaining a focus on transparency and natural ingredients.

Adamo Foods has been recognized for its innovative approach, being named among “8 Great British Startups that are Going to Change the World” by The Grocer and “Top 10 European Food Tech Companies to Watch in 2024” by Tech.eu. The company is preparing for its first product launch with a limited pilot in the UK, followed by a broader rollout across Europe.