Pacifico Biolabs is a technology company.
Pacifico Biolabs has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Pacifico Biolabs has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Pacifico Biolabs is a Berlin-based biotechnology company founded in 2022 that develops sustainable meat alternatives, primarily seafood and other meats like chicken, pork, and fish, using mycelium fermentation technology.[1][2][5] It produces Viando, a line of mycelium-based "mycomeat" products designed for B2B customers in the food industry, offering realistic taste, texture, and nutrition while requiring up to 99% less land, 90% less water, and 90% fewer CO2 emissions than traditional animal meat.[5] The company serves food manufacturers by integrating directly into existing supply chains and recipes, solving the problem of unsustainable seafood and meat production amid rising global demand and environmental pressures.[1][2][5] With $3.3M raised in a convertible note round and public funding, Pacifico is in early scaling stages, focusing on European market launch post-regulatory approval.[1][2][3]
Pacifico Biolabs was co-founded in 2022 by Zac Austin (CEO, former McKinsey strategy consultant in London and British government COVID taskforce member) and Washington Logroño (biotechnology graduate who migrated from Ecuador to Europe).[2] The idea emerged from their collaboration on fermentation innovations for fragmented seafood products like white fish fillets, where traditional methods fall short.[2] Emerging from stealth in early 2024 with seed funding, the company quickly gained traction through public grants for mycelium-based vegan meat alternatives and venture backing, positioning it as a leader in biomass-fermented seafood.[2][3]
Pacifico Biolabs rides the alternative protein wave, targeting seafood—a sector with $808M in VC funding across 56 deals in 2023 amid overfishing, climate impacts, and 20%+ annual demand growth.[2] Its timing aligns with EU regulatory progress for novel foods and mycelium's centuries-old safety profile, enabling faster market entry than cell-cultured meats.[2][5] Market forces like resource scarcity and consumer shifts toward sustainable, nutritious options favor its low-cost, high-yield model, influencing the ecosystem by proving fermentation can disrupt legacy meat supply chains without overhauls.[1][5] As a deep tech player, it accelerates biotech's role in food security, competing with plant-based and cultivated proteins while bridging to mainstream adoption.[1][2][4]
Pacifico is poised to launch Viando Chicken in Europe soon, with pork and fish following, leveraging its pre-seed momentum to scale bioreactors and secure approvals.[2][5] Trends like precision ag-tech advancements, rising alt-seafood investments, and corporate sustainability mandates will propel growth, potentially expanding to global B2B partnerships.[2][5] Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to supply chain staple, redefining meat companies by swapping animals for fungi—delivering the sustainable, drop-in alternatives the food industry craves.[5]
Pacifico Biolabs has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Pacifico Biolabs's investors include Bitburger Ventures.
Pacifico Biolabs has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in February 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2024 | $3.0M Seed | Bitburger Ventures |