EdiMembre spins out of MilliporeSigma to advance scalable alternative protein manufacturing

EdiMembre, a new food technology company focused on enabling future food manufacturing, has spun out of MilliporeSigma with the goal of bringing edible membrane technology to market for the alternative protein sector.

The Massachusetts-based startup holds an exclusive license to commercialize the edible membrane platform developed at MilliporeSigma, the US and Canada Life Science brand of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The platform has already been demonstrated in edible hollow fiber bioreactor systems, which show promise for producing structured whole-cut cultivated meat and novel high-protein food products.

The company is co-founded by Timothy Olsen, PhD, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer, and Ryan Sylvia, who will take on the role of Chief Science Officer. Both bring years of experience from MilliporeSigma’s Cultivated Meat Program.

“We're excited to bring our experience and expertise from the MilliporeSigma Cultivated Meat Program to start EdiMembre," said Olsen. "Our deep understanding of the edible membrane technology and its potential for global impact, combined with our entrepreneurial drive, positions us uniquely to help accelerate the cultivated meat industry. Our focus moving forward will be on the development and commercialization of multiple novel alternative protein enabling manufacturing capabilities and products."

MilliporeSigma’s Cultivated Meat Program had built up a strong intellectual property portfolio and developed partnerships in the alternative protein industry. That foundation opened the door for externalization via corporate venturing with Munich-based company builder mantro GmbH, which will manage MilliporeSigma’s stake in the new business.

At EdiMembre, the core edible membrane technology will be developed further into manufacturing capabilities designed to scale food production in the cultivated and plant-based protein markets. The company has already created countertop versions of edible hollow fiber bioreactors. These prototypes have been validated by industry partners in applications ranging from structured whole-cut cultivated meat to legume-protein pasta products.

"From initial product ideation to placing functional prototypes in the hands of several leading cultivated meat producers, this journey has redefined the boundaries of what was once thought possible," said Sylvia. As lead inventor of the technology platform, he added, "What began as a single product in development at MilliporeSigma has evolved into a robust technology platform, now attracting interest from companies across the alternative protein landscape—an achievement that has been deeply rewarding. We now look forward to sharing our developments with the industry."

EdiMembre’s launch has been supported by a US$400,000 pre-seed investment round, with contributions from Siddhi Capital, Replicator VC, Meach Cove Capital, and Cellular Agriculture, Ltd, a Hilton Foods portfolio company.

Steven Finn, Co-Founder and General Partner of Siddhi Capital, commented on the investment: “I’ve known the EdiMembre team for years, and I am thrilled to see them take this step toward transforming cultivated meat. The industry still lacks high quality, structured whole cuts with a clear path to scale. By combining novel structural technology with integrated bioreactors, EdiMembre is addressing the core challenges of consumer adoption and delivering scalable, high-value solutions for cultivated meat producers.”

The company is based in Woburn, Massachusetts, operating out of Atlas Commercial Kitchen, and is actively seeking partners for application testing. EdiMembre has also officially opened its seed funding round as it looks to expand development and commercialization efforts.

The spinout marks a continuation of MilliporeSigma’s broader strategy of developing technologies that enable the alternative protein industry while leveraging external partners to accelerate commercialization. For EdiMembre, the task ahead will be to scale edible membrane technology from validated prototypes to widespread adoption across cultivated meat and plant-based applications.

Founded with the aim of equipping food producers with new manufacturing tools, EdiMembre positions itself as an enabler rather than a consumer-facing brand. By supplying the structural and bioreactor technologies needed to produce structured meat and protein-rich foods, the company hopes to address bottlenecks in scaling production and improving product quality in the alternative protein market.

For now, the company’s focus remains firmly on product development, validation with partners, and securing the resources to move from pre-seed to seed stage. “We now look forward to sharing our developments with the industry,” Sylvia emphasized.