Amai Proteins Overview
Amai Proteins has developed Sweelin, a hyper-sweet protein from the serendipity berry that reduces added sugar in food and beverages by 40-70% without compromising taste, health, cost, or sustainability. With regulatory approvals and a strong portfolio of patents, Amai ("sweet" in Japanese) produces Designer Proteins using its Pro-Cube platform, a three-part process. The platform’s Pro-Design AI-CPD (Computational Protein Design) is led by founder Dr. Ilan Samish, whose work in protein design draws inspiration from the resilience of proteins in extreme environments. Through this platform, Amai developed Sweelin®, a protein that is both highly stable and approximately 3,000 times sweeter than sugar. The Pro-Planet Microbial Precision Fermentation process then produces the Designer Proteins through scalable and cost-efficient aerobic fermentation, utilizing food-grade microorganisms. This approach yields a pure protein powder free of the host organism. Finally, Pro-Taste Food Technology assesses the protein’s functionality, stability, and compatibility with other ingredients in food and beverages, enhanced through feedback from a specialized tasting panel.
Cumulative Funding Raised Over Time ($)
—Apr 2020
$6.0MApr 2020
$6.0MAug 2021
$6.6MFeb 2019
$7.5MJul 2017
$7.5MJul 2025
$12.4MMar 2021
$21.4MSep 2023
Latest News
growth-positive
/PRNewswire/ -- Amai Proteins, a scale-up designer of novel proteins that answer the needs of consumers and industry, has succesfullly completed world's first...
Amai Proteins has successfully completed a groundbreaking double-blind, random clinical trial to test the effects of its hyper-sweet protein, sweelin®, on blood glucose and insulin levels in humans. The study, conducted at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, demonstrated that sweelin® does not raise blood glucose or insulin levels in healthy adults, even when consumed in amounts equivalent to the sweetness of 75 grams of sugar. This trial, although not required by regulatory authorities, was conducted to enhance consumer and market confidence in the safety and health benefits of sweelin®. The results suggest that sweelin® can be a viable sugar replacement for consumers looking to reduce sugar intake without sacrificing taste.
growth-positive
החברה הישראלית שמייצרת תחליף לסוכר: "אבקה לבנה שעושה טוב"
Amai, a company founded by Dr. Ilan Samish, specializes in developing a protein-based sweetener as a sugar substitute. The company has raised approximately $25 million from investors including iAngels, Zora, Welltch, and Sucden. Amai is in the process of obtaining regulatory approvals to market its product in the U.S. and other countries. The company has formed partnerships with major corporations like PepsiCo, Danone, and Ocean Spray, although these collaborations have not yet resulted in product launches. Amai plans to expand its production to Brazil and is actively seeking additional investment. The company recently faced a significant loss with the passing of Dr. Lilia Gurevich-Vasilkovsky, a key team member.
InvestmentPartnersManagement Changes
growth-positive
Amai Proteins wins multiple regulatory approvals for its calorie-free sweet protein: sweelin®
Amai Proteins, a company specializing in designer proteins, has achieved several regulatory approvals for its calorie-free sweet protein, sweelin®. These approvals include self-affirmed GRAS and FEMA-GRAS, allowing sweelin® to be used in various applications in the United States and beyond. The company is working towards additional regulatory clearances, including FDA GRAS status. Amais innovative approach uses a Pro3 Platform for biomanufacturing, ensuring a sustainable production process. The company has won numerous competitions and is collaborating with food and beverage multinationals to commercialize sweelin®. Amai aims to revolutionize sugar reduction in the food industry, offering a healthier and sustainable alternative to traditional sweeteners.
CustomersPartners
Sugar replacement startup wins global award
growth-positive
Amai Proteins has found the sweet solution for sugar
Amai Proteins, a foodtech company, has developed a healthy sweetener made from computer-designed proteins. The sweetener, made from 100% protein, aims to reduce sugar content in various food products. The company uses computational design to create designer proteins that mimic the taste of sugar. Amai Proteins focuses on sugar reduction rather than elimination and aims to revolutionize the foodtech industry with its designer protein products. The company plans to launch its products in the United States by the end of 2022. Amai Proteins has received financial backing from various sources, including the Israel Innovation Authority, The Kitchen Foodtech Hub incubator, and several EU-funded grants. It recently completed a $11.3 million Series A equity round with multiple investors and plans to conduct a Series B round before considering an initial public offering.
Expand
| Sector | Agriculture & Food Technologies |
Funding
| Total funding | $22.82M |
| Last funding | Undisclosed |
| Stage | A |
| Rounds | 12 |
| Investors | 11 |
Team Members
7
Employees: 51-200
Web & Social Links
| Website | amaiproteins.com |
| Careers | Careers page |
Locations
Haim Holtsman St 2a, Rehovot, Israel
Photos & Videos
4 item(s)
Amai Proteins Business
Business models
B2B2C, B2B, B2C
Product stage
Alpha
Employees
51-200
Sector
Climate TechFood & Land UseSustainable ProteinsAgriculture & Food TechnologiesFood TechNovel Food & IngredientsTarget Customer
Agriculture & FoodProcessed FoodsIngredientsCore Technology
BiologicalsMoleculesTags (12)
climate-techlow-sugar-foodshealthcarebioinformaticsfoodtechfood-and-beveragenovel-ingredientsfood-ingredientsnutritionalternative-proteincloud-basedbiotechnologyGeographic Markets
GlobalAmai Proteins Financials
$22.82M
Total funding
Undisclosed
Capital raised
Undisclosed
Last funding
A
Funding stage
12
Total rounds
11
Investors
Cumulative Funding Raised Over Time ($)
—Apr 2020
$6.0MApr 2020
$6.0MAug 2021
$6.6MFeb 2019
$7.5MJul 2017
$7.5MJul 2025
$12.4MMar 2021
$21.4MSep 2023
Private Equity Funding
A Round
Jul 2025
Undisclosed
iAngels
SAFE
Sep 2023
$9M
Undisclosed Round
Aug 2021
Undisclosed
The Chartered Group
SAFE
Mar 2021
$5M
ZORA Ventures
A Round
Apr 2020
Undisclosed
Colin Magne, ZORA Ventures, Dragones Venture Partners
Undisclosed Round
Apr 2020
$6M
iAngels, Welltech Ventures, Sucden Ventures, BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures, K3 Ventures
Convertible Debt
Feb 2019
$600K
The Kitchen FoodTech Hub, Israel Innovation Authority
Seed
Jul 2017
$850K
The Kitchen FoodTech Hub, Israel Innovation Authority
Non-Equity Funding
GrantEvent
Jan 2020
$1.15M
EIT Food Accelerator Network, Israel Innovation Authority
GrantEvent
Apr 2019
$100K
Google
GrantEvent
Jan 2017
$20K
Google
GrantEvent
Jan 2017
$100K
Amazon
Amai Proteins Lifecycle
Cumulative Funding Raised Over Time
—Apr 2020
$6.0MApr 2020
$6.0MAug 2021
$6.6MFeb 2019
$7.5MJul 2017
$7.5MJul 2025
$12.4MMar 2021
$21.4MSep 2023
All Events
A Round
Jul 2025
Undisclosed
iAngels
SAFE
Sep 2023
$9M
Undisclosed Round
Aug 2021
Undisclosed
The Chartered Group
SAFE
Mar 2021
$5M
ZORA Ventures
A Round
Apr 2020
Undisclosed
Colin Magne, ZORA Ventures, Dragones Venture Partners
Undisclosed Round
Apr 2020
$6M
iAngels, Welltech Ventures, Sucden Ventures, BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures, K3 Ventures
Convertible Debt
Feb 2019
$600K
The Kitchen FoodTech Hub, Israel Innovation Authority
Seed
Jul 2017
$850K
The Kitchen FoodTech Hub, Israel Innovation Authority
GrantEvent
Jan 2020
$1.15M
EIT Food Accelerator Network, Israel Innovation Authority
GrantEvent
Apr 2019
$100K
Google
GrantEvent
Jan 2017
$20K
Google
GrantEvent
Jan 2017
$100K
Amazon
Amai Proteins News
19 articles
growth-positive
/PRNewswire/ -- Amai Proteins, a scale-up designer of novel proteins that answer the needs of consumers and industry, has succesfullly completed world's first...
Amai Proteins has successfully completed a groundbreaking double-blind, random clinical trial to test the effects of its hyper-sweet protein, sweelin®, on blood glucose and insulin levels in humans. The study, conducted at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, demonstrated that sweelin® does not raise blood glucose or insulin levels in healthy adults, even when consumed in amounts equivalent to the sweetness of 75 grams of sugar. This trial, although not required by regulatory authorities, was conducted to enhance consumer and market confidence in the safety and health benefits of sweelin®. The results suggest that sweelin® can be a viable sugar replacement for consumers looking to reduce sugar intake without sacrificing taste.
growth-positive
החברה הישראלית שמייצרת תחליף לסוכר: "אבקה לבנה שעושה טוב"
Amai, a company founded by Dr. Ilan Samish, specializes in developing a protein-based sweetener as a sugar substitute. The company has raised approximately $25 million from investors including iAngels, Zora, Welltch, and Sucden. Amai is in the process of obtaining regulatory approvals to market its product in the U.S. and other countries. The company has formed partnerships with major corporations like PepsiCo, Danone, and Ocean Spray, although these collaborations have not yet resulted in product launches. Amai plans to expand its production to Brazil and is actively seeking additional investment. The company recently faced a significant loss with the passing of Dr. Lilia Gurevich-Vasilkovsky, a key team member.
InvestmentPartnersManagement Changes
growth-positive
Amai Proteins wins multiple regulatory approvals for its calorie-free sweet protein: sweelin®
Amai Proteins, a company specializing in designer proteins, has achieved several regulatory approvals for its calorie-free sweet protein, sweelin®. These approvals include self-affirmed GRAS and FEMA-GRAS, allowing sweelin® to be used in various applications in the United States and beyond. The company is working towards additional regulatory clearances, including FDA GRAS status. Amais innovative approach uses a Pro3 Platform for biomanufacturing, ensuring a sustainable production process. The company has won numerous competitions and is collaborating with food and beverage multinationals to commercialize sweelin®. Amai aims to revolutionize sugar reduction in the food industry, offering a healthier and sustainable alternative to traditional sweeteners.
CustomersPartners
Sugar replacement startup wins global award
growth-positive
Amai Proteins has found the sweet solution for sugar
Amai Proteins, a foodtech company, has developed a healthy sweetener made from computer-designed proteins. The sweetener, made from 100% protein, aims to reduce sugar content in various food products. The company uses computational design to create designer proteins that mimic the taste of sugar. Amai Proteins focuses on sugar reduction rather than elimination and aims to revolutionize the foodtech industry with its designer protein products. The company plans to launch its products in the United States by the end of 2022. Amai Proteins has received financial backing from various sources, including the Israel Innovation Authority, The Kitchen Foodtech Hub incubator, and several EU-funded grants. It recently completed a $11.3 million Series A equity round with multiple investors and plans to conduct a Series B round before considering an initial public offering.
Expand
growth-positive
Israeli Food Tech Startup Amai Proteins Replaces Sugar With Healthy, Sweet Proteins
Amai Proteins, a food tech startup, has developed a healthier substitute for sugar based on newly designed proteins. The company uses Agile Integrative Computational Protein Design (AI-CPD) to create proteins that are sweet and sustainable. These proteins are far sweeter than sugar and can be used in food production. Amai Proteins has received recommendations from major food companies like PepsiCo, Ocean Spray, and Danone. The proteins are produced in an R&D capacity, but the company plans to reach production scale in an economically efficient way. Amai Proteins aims to substantially reduce sugar consumption worldwide by providing a cheap, healthy, and tasty alternative to sugar. The company is also planning to expand into non-sweet proteins and alternative meat. A global distribution plan with food suppliers is set to launch in 2022.
CustomersPartnersInvestmentManagement ChangesExpand
growth-positive
Ocean Spray and Amai Proteins Partner to Create the First Protein-Sweetened Reduced Sugar Cranberry Juice
Ocean Spray has announced a partnership with Amai Proteins to develop cranberry juice with a 40% sugar reduction. Amai Proteins has created a hyper-sweet protein that is thousands of times sweeter than sugar through computational protein design. The partnership aims to provide consumers with healthier options while maintaining the taste and health benefits of cranberries. Ocean Spray plans to extend the use of Amai Proteins sweet proteins to other products in the future. The partnership is a significant milestone for Ocean Spray and the beverage industry, as many companies struggle to remove sugar without compromising flavor. The collaboration aligns with Ocean Sprays commitment to health and wellness.
Partners
growth-positive
Israeli Foodtech company Amai Proteins wins "Call for Wellness Innovations" award at the Global Wellness Summit
Amai Proteins Ltd., an Israeli company that designs proteins to act as sugar supplements, has won the first-ever “Call for Wellness Innovations” award at the Global Wellness Summit in Palm Beach, Florida. The event, sponsored by Israel’s Welltech1, celebrated wellness trends and the role of startups in promoting healthier lifestyles. Amai Proteins was chosen from over 80 companies that submitted ideas for products to improve global wellness. The company, founded by Ilan Samish in 2016, has raised $2.5 million to date.
Investment
growth-positive
'Over Ten Thousand Times Sweeter Than Sugar': Meet The Man Making Some of The World's Sweetest Proteins - AFN
Israeli startup Amai Proteins is designing hyper-sweet, zero-calorie proteins from exotic fruits. The proteins, which are over 10,000 times sweeter than sugar, are being developed in collaboration with companies like PepsiCo, Danone, and SodaStream. The CEO, Dr. Ilan Samish, hopes that these proteins can replace sugars and sweeteners in various products, including soft drinks and snacks. Amai Proteins has raised $1.4 million in seed funding and is currently fundraising for its Series A round, aiming to raise $10 million. The company is also moving production to a larger scale and is optimistic about the regulatory context for its products. The proteins are designed through fermentation and molecular structure redesign using AI-CPD.
PartnersInvestment
In the Future, Your Food Will Be Sweetened With Protein
This Sugar Substitute Aims to Avoid a Bitter End
growth-positive
Israeli startups want to replace your sugar with high-tech alternatives - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israeli biotech company Amai Proteins is developing sweet alternatives to sugar in commercial food products. The company is working on formulas based on proteins found in various fruits that have zero calories, are cheaper and sweeter than sugar, and dont leave an aftertaste. Amai Proteins is part of a new crop of Israeli biotech and food science companies aiming to take on the $90 billion global sugar market. The companys products could have a growth-positive impact on the company. The key theme of the article is the development of alternative sweeteners. The key issues discussed in the article are customers and partners. The date of the event described in the article is not provided. My confidence in this answer is 8/10.
CustomersPartners
growth-positive
New sweet protein holds out hope for diabetics
Amai Proteins, an Israeli startup, is using computational protein design (CPD) to create sweet proteins as a healthier alternative to sugar. The company aims to develop a protein-sweetened product that does not contribute to diabetes or obesity. Amai Proteins CPD technology allows them to design proteins with the right composition for the mass food market. The company has received NIS 3 million ($825,000) in investment from the Israeli-run Strauss food conglomerate. Amai Proteins is part of a growing number of Israeli startups addressing the sugar addiction problem and the $9 billion sugar substitute market. The company plans to expand into other areas where CPD can be beneficial in food design, such as functional foods and medical foods.
Investment
Food 2.0: Three companies that are changing the way we eat John Cumbers, SynBioBeta at TFF Academy
growth-positive
Could computationally designed sweet proteins revolutionise sugar replacement sector?
Amai Proteins, a biotechnology company based in Tel Aviv, is developing sweet proteins that are significantly sweeter than sugar. The company aims to create proteins that can be used to sweeten various food and beverage products, including dairy, beverages, and confectionery. Amai Proteins has partnered with companies such as Danone, PepsiCo, and SodaStream to experiment with different sugar and sweet protein combinations. The company has produced two sweet proteins based on existing sequences and is working on producing more novel sweet proteins. Amai Proteins faces challenges such as high prices, limited supply, and imperfect taste profiles, but is working to overcome these obstacles. The company expects to bring its first novel sweet protein to market within the next two years.
CustomersPartners
growth-positive
Israeli co offers sweet protein as sugar substitute
Amai Proteins, a company founded by Dr. Ilan Samish, is working on designing sweet proteins as a sugar substitute. The company aims to address the aftertaste and health concerns associated with existing sugar substitutes. Amai Proteins is focused on adapting the protein thaumatin, found in the katemfe plant, for mass consumption. The company uses biotechnology to produce the protein and ensures it is not genetically engineered. Amai Proteins is also developing two other sweet proteins using computer protein design methods. The products require FDA trials as new foods. Amai Proteins has received investments from Strauss, Amazon, and Google. The company plans to replace sugar in various products and is already collaborating with SodaStream. Sales are expected to begin within two years.
CustomersPartners
growth-positive
Future Food Asia Award: Here are the 10 finalists competing for the US$100,000 prize
ID Capital, organized by ID Capital, challenges start-ups to create sustainable food solutions. The number of applications grew 30%, with applicants coming from 19 countries. The competition showcases the vitality of the region and its capacity to tackle global challenges. Finalists include companies from Korea, India, Australia, Israel, Japan, and Taiwan, offering a range of innovative solutions. The event will also feature panel discussions and keynote addresses from industry players.
InvestmentExpand
growth-positive
14 disruptive food-tech startups that will change how we eat
The article discusses the growth and innovation in Israels food-tech industry. It highlights the establishment of food innovation hubs and the participation of Israeli startups in international food-tech events. The article also mentions 14 disruptive Israeli food-tech startups, including Hargol FoodTech, Hinoman, Flying Spark, Amai Proteins, DouxMatok, SuperMeat, Meat the Future, INDI, BactuSense, Yarok Technology Transfer, Inspecto, NutraT, CHiCK.P, and Equinom. These startups are working on various technologies and solutions related to protein substitutes, food safety, and sustainable agriculture. The article emphasizes the global regard for Israels tech expertise and the increasing focus of investors on the food-tech sector.
InvestmentExpand
growth-positive
Israel's FoodTech Industry Leaps Forward, According to The Kitchen
The Kitchen, a startup incubator sponsored by leading Israeli food company Strauss-Group, has played a significant role in the growth of Israels foodtech industry. The incubator, which launched in 2015, has helped create awareness of the food tech sector among entrepreneurs and investors. The Kitchen provides investment and support to foodtech startups for 18 to 24 months. The incubator has seen a shift in the types of startups applying, with a focus on alternative proteins, technologies for sugar and sodium reduction, and more natural foods. The Kitchen currently has six companies in its incubator and is expecting to bring on a new company in the cultured meat space. Startups in the incubator have access to expertise within the Strauss Group, Israels largest food company.
PartnersInvestment
Amai Proteins Team
Employee Info
| Employees (range) | 51-200 |
| Exact count | 55 |
| Team members | 7 |
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Amai Proteins Internal
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Admin Info
| Confidence | 100/100 |
| Missing | markets |
| BI Verification | Natalia Golczar |
| Registrar ID | 515533545 |
| Crunchbase | amai-proteins |
| Creator | Ilan Samish |
| Creator email | ilan.samish@amaiproteins.com |
| Last updater | Ortal Wein |
| Updater email | ortalw@sncentral.org |
| Last update | 2024-11-13T00:00:00.000Z |
| Created | 2018-01-02T00:00:00.000Z |
| Claimed | Yes |