ERGO Raises a $2 Million Seed Round to Expand Operations in Canada

ERGO, an Argentinian startup founded in 2020, announced last month that it had raised $2 million in a seed funding round aimed at expanding its international operations. The company specializes in producing plant-based proteins, such as myoglobin and caseins, which replicate the taste, texture, and aroma of traditional animal products. These ingredients are used in plant-based food alternatives, contributing to the growing demand for sustainable and cruelty-free food solutions.

The seed round saw participation from notable investors, including CITES, ProVeg International, Pascual Innoventure, GAAP VC, and the Canadian fund Ag-West Bio. This new capital will support the establishment of ERGO’s subsidiary in Saskatoon, Canada, where the company will conduct research and development activities. ERGO’s founder, Alejandro Barbarini, highlighted the strategic importance of this new center, citing partnerships with top biotechnology institutes, including the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), as key to their expansion plan.

With the opening of the Saskatoon facility, ERGO plans to advance its genetic engineering work and strengthen its expertise in areas such as proteomics, metabolomics, and RNA sequencing. The new center is also expected to create employment opportunities, with the startup planning to hire five specialized biotechnology researchers.

ERGO’s work aligns with global efforts to replace animal-derived ingredients in the food industry, utilizing its proprietary EUKARYA platform to cultivate plant cells for protein production. The company’s main commercial partners include NotCo and Nomad Foods, both of which are leaders in the plant-based food sector.