Kickstart Ventures Invests Millions in UK Biotech Startup Known for Lab-Grown Meat

Philippine corporate venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures has infused a multi-million-dollar investment in Roslin Technologies, a biotechnology company that specializes in stem cell technology for cultivated meat. Kickstart Ventures, which is wholly-owned by Globe Telecom, led the deal through the Ayala Corporate Technology Innovation Venture Fund (ACTIVE Fund). This comes just months after Roslin Technologies was able to raise £11.5 million from its Series A round in late 2022.

Roslin Technologies was founded in Scotland in 2016 by a team of scientists from the Roslin Institute, which is known for its groundbreaking cloning of Dolly the Sheep in the mid-1990s. Their goal is to address global food insecurity by finding new ways to feed the world’s growing population through cultivated meat, otherwise known as lab-grown meat. An industry leader in animal stem cell research, Roslin Technologies uses its animal stem cell technology to create cultivated meat. This allows for sustainable meat production without needing to raise animals or cattle.

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“Roslin Technologies, with their scalable, IP-rich approach and innovative technology, offers a compelling and commercially attractive solution. Together, we strive to create a sustainable future for food to alleviate hunger and food insecurity,” said Kickstart Ventures Vice President of Investments Michael Maté.

In the Philippines, people are getting hungrier. According to the Social Weather Station, approximately 11.8 percent of the population deals with hunger, with 599,000 families experiencing “severe hunger.” Coupled with poverty, increasing birth rates, and dependence on food imports, hunger levels pose a problem to national growth.

“The persistent complex issue of food insecurity demands multiple transformative solutions, and this investment is meaningful for future food security globally, especially in emerging markets like the Philippines,” said Kickstart Ventures President Minette Navarrete

The investment from ACTIVE Fund will help Roslin Technologies solidify its footprint in Asia and further strengthen Roslin Technologies' international shareholder base, which includes the University of Edinburgh, Future Planet Capital, Novo Holdings, Kairos Capital Group, and Nutreco, and other international investors.