Bio-design company launches its Designer Collagen business globally for the beauty, nutraceutical, and food and beverage industries
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. , Oct. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geltor, the bio-design company behind Designer Collagen, today announced $18.2 million in Series A financing, led by Cultivian Sandbox Ventures. The round includes investment from GELITA, the leading global supplier of collagen proteins, and ADM Ventures, the venture investing arm of global food and feed ingredient provider, Archer Daniels Midland Company – alongside investment from Cavallo Ventures and Box Group.
The consumer product industry is at an inflection point where the demand for collagen is surging, as is the consideration for what consumers are putting on their skin and in their bodies. Many people don’t realize that the collagen found in consumer products today is sourced from the skin and bones of livestock, raising ethical concerns from consumers and contributing to the growing threat of climate change.
Geltor has developed a proprietary bio-design platform where high-value proteins can be produced on a global scale. By combining biology, protein optimization, and fermentation, the company is able to produce naturally occurring and previously untapped types of collagen – precisely targeting the ideal protein type, rather than sourcing it from the low-grade availability of animal waste. This process also gives Geltor’s products an advantage over other commercially available animal proteins, since they’re bio-designed for strength, firmness, and flexibility for optimum performance in consumer products.
“The industry standard for proteins right now is to use factory-farm waste to mimic the process our bodies make naturally. This method works at a base level, but it’s harmful to animals, the environment, and it doesn’t leverage the true power or benefits of collagen,” said CEO of Geltor, Alexander Lorestani. “Geltor’s Designer Collagens deliver better functionality for consumers, a robust supply chain for businesses, and a sustainable alternative for our planet. They’re proteins we can be proud of, and I’m so excited to see the world’s biggest consumer companies choosing Geltor as their sustainable protein partner.”
The company’s flagship consumer product, N-Collage, is a bio-designed, clinically-tested collagen that delivers superior cellular regeneration, protection and derma-collagen synthesis. It’s the first-ever 100 percent vegan collagen technology engineered for unparalleled skincare performance, is Certified Halal, and the winner of the 2018 CEW Beauty “Innovation of the Year” award.
“At Cultivian Sandbox, we focus on identifying companies reinventing the food and agriculture industry with technology, and Geltor is doing just that,” said Dan Phillips, Managing Director at Cultivian Sandbox Ventures. “With a team of experienced and passionate PhD scientists behind it, and a unique, science-first approach, the company is pioneering a new industry standard for protein creation and we’re excited to be their partner on this journey.”
This latest funding round will allow the company to continue its mission of creating new, category-defining ingredients, expanding its product offering of 100 percent animal and GMO-free proteins. It also takes the company’s raised funding to $23 million to date. For more information, visit www.geltor.com.
About Geltor
Geltor is a bio-design company creating high-value designer proteins, starting with collagen. Its proteins are 100 percent animal-and GMO-free, and are cultivated using a sustainable fermentation process. Geltor’s Designer Collagen products provide unprecedented functionality and benefits for consumers, while producing less waste and consuming fewer natural resources than the current process sourced from animal waste. Geltor was founded in 2015 by Alexander Lorestani and Nick Ouzounov and is based in San Leandro, Calif. For more information, visit www.geltor.com.
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Meredith Klee for Geltor
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