SIMULATE is a technology company.
SIMULATE has raised $57.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at SIMULATE.
SIMULATE has raised $57.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
SIMULATE has raised $57.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
SIMULATE's investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Muchmore Ventures, NFX, Pareto Holdings, Rainfall Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Trajectory Ventures, Tribe Capital, Charlie Songhurst, Cory Levy, Justin Mateen.
Key people at SIMULATE.
# SIMULATE: High-Level Overview
SIMULATE is a nutrition technology company developing plant-based food products and the underlying technology platform that powers them.[1] Founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York, the company aims to upgrade the global food system by creating plant-based alternatives to conventional animal proteins.[1] Rather than simply manufacturing food products, SIMULATE has built a proprietary nutrition technology platform that enables the development of plant-based brands including NUGGS (plant-based chicken nuggets), DISCS, and WINGS.[1]
The company solves a critical problem in the alternative protein space: creating plant-based products that match the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of conventional animal proteins at scale. SIMULATE's approach differs from traditional food companies by positioning itself as a technology enabler for multiple plant-based brands, rather than a single-brand consumer company. With $61 million in total funding and $8.4 million in reported revenue, SIMULATE demonstrates both investor confidence and early commercial traction.[1]
# Origin Story
SIMULATE emerged in 2018 during the early wave of alternative protein innovation. The company's flagship product, NUGGS, launched in summer 2019 and quickly gained market momentum—the search results describe it as "the fastest growing chicken nugget on the planet."[2] This early success validated both the product concept and the underlying nutrition technology platform, establishing SIMULATE as more than a single-product company but rather a platform for developing multiple plant-based food categories.
The founding reflected a broader recognition that plant-based proteins required not just culinary innovation but deep nutritional science and food technology expertise to compete effectively with conventional alternatives.
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
SIMULATE operates at the intersection of two major trends: the alternative protein revolution and the application of deep technology to food systems. The company represents a shift from first-generation plant-based companies (which focused on taste and texture) toward second-generation players that build proprietary technology platforms to solve fundamental nutritional and sensory challenges.
The timing is significant: as consumer acceptance of plant-based proteins has matured, the competitive advantage has shifted from novelty to science. SIMULATE's platform approach also addresses a structural inefficiency in the alternative protein market—historically, each brand developed its own formulations. By creating a shared technology layer, SIMULATE reduces R&D duplication across the ecosystem and accelerates category expansion.
The company's model influences the broader startup ecosystem by demonstrating that B2B2C technology platforms can outpace traditional consumer brands in scaling alternative proteins, potentially reshaping how the industry approaches product development.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
SIMULATE is positioned to become a critical infrastructure layer in the alternative protein economy. As consumer demand for plant-based products continues to mature and regulatory scrutiny increases, companies with proprietary technology and proven formulation expertise will command significant value.
The company's next phase likely involves expanding its technology platform to additional protein categories (beyond poultry) and potentially scaling internationally. The $50 million in recent funding suggests investors see runway for significant growth, though success will depend on whether SIMULATE can maintain product quality and innovation velocity while licensing its technology to multiple partners.
If SIMULATE executes effectively, it could establish a playbook where nutrition technology platforms—rather than consumer brands—become the primary value creators in alternative proteins, fundamentally reshaping how the industry develops and commercializes new products.
SIMULATE has raised $57.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Series B in June 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2021 | $50.0M Series B | Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Muchmore Ventures, NFX, Pareto Holdings, Rainfall Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Trajectory Ventures, Tribe Capital, Charlie Songhurst, Cory Levy, Justin Mateen, Kevin Weil, Kyle Vogt, Neil Parikh, Robert Pittman, Thomas Tull, Trevor Blackwell | |
| Jul 1, 2019 | $7.0M Seed | Rainfall Ventures, Clement Benoit, Neil Parikh, Romain Afflelou |
