Hot and Hotter 🔥: Issue #31

Awards, collabs, and AI (oh my!)—Abbot’s Butcher, Green Rebel, Oshi, Nobell and more

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s the hottest summer we’ve ever had. Even those in winter are experiencing heat unlike anything they’ve ever seen, and it’s looking like 2023 will be the hottest year since temperatures have been recorded. Our new reality is a lot to grapple with.

And, much like the extremes in our natural world, the environment of the current financial market is harsh for startups. Some won’t survive the heat. But bad news isn’t ALL of the news, either! Read on to see how young businesses are using partnerships and collaborations to be future-focused.

Source: Nobell Foods “Pizza Futures”

What’s up with our portfolio companies, you ask?

#awards

• Nobell Foods is a winner of Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards

#betterfoodsystems

• Heura collaborates with schools to provide plant-based nutrition

• Meati Foods taps artificial intelligence to improve the health benefits of mushroom meat

• Alt cheese startup Nobell Foods explores climate change’s impact on the future of pizza

• Magi Richani of Nobell Foods on A16z podcast discussing the future of cheese

#bizupdates

• Abbot’s Butcher ground beef, chopped chick'n, chorizo, and Italian sausage can be purchased through Webstaurant via a new partnership

• Mosa Meat opens new facility in Maastricht, sees a clear path towards price parity for cultivated meat

• MyForest Foods raises $15M in Series A-2 to scale MyBacon, appoints Greg Shewchuk as new CEO

• Whole-cut salmon pioneer Plantish rebrands to Oshi ahead of U.S. restaurant launch

• Oshi and The Better Meat Co. receive a $1M joint grant to develop fish-free salmon filets

• Wicked Kitchen acquires alt-seafood brand Current Foods to expand global food service

#wheretotaste

• Abbot’s Butcher chopped chick’n added to menus at all 20 Tocaya Modern Mexican Restaurants

• AirAsia partners with Indonesia’s Green Rebel for meatless menu options

• Green Rebel expands in Asia including 364 Starbucks stores

What’s getting our attention:

• MeatingPod Bring the Brawn

• Why is healthy food so expensive in America? Blame the Farm Bill that Congress always renews to make burgers cheaper than salad

• A SWOT analysis of alternative proteins

• ClimateWorks Foundation report: Reducing methane emissions in the global food system

• The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ report: Mitigating risk and capturing opportunity, the future of alternative proteins

• Food Lab Talk with Ashley Zanolli on food waste

🔮 Our world brings a mix of exciting information and terrifying changes and predictions on the daily, it seems. We’ll be over here fanning ourselves, and working diligently on #foodtech, #sustainablefood, and #foodsecurity.