FUDI Protein

About the offering

FUDI Protein is extracting RuBisCO—the most abundant protein on Earth, found in every green leaf—from alfalfa using proprietary mobile processing units deployed directly in farmers' fields. The company positions RuBisCO as a 1:1 replacement for egg white protein with superior functionality over existing plant proteins (pea, soy, rice), targeting the $60B+ protein ingredient market as a B2B supplier to food and beverage manufacturers. The founding team includes former leaders from Impossible Foods, Eat Just, and The EVERY Company.The ProblemThe alternative protein industry needs a plant-based protein that simultaneously delivers three requirements: functionality that genuinely replaces animal proteins like eggs, whey, and casein in food applications; environmental sustainability; and affordability at scale. Existing plant proteins fail on functionality—soy, pea, chickpea, and other seed-based proteins contain various storage proteins with limited functional abilities, performing poorly at the emulsification, binding, gelling, foaming, and solubility that food manufacturers need. Meanwhile, the food industry faces pressure to reduce reliance on animal-derived ingredients, but first-generation alternative proteins have struggled with taste, performance, cost, and scalability. The founders' experience at the world's largest alternative protein companies showed them firsthand what works and what doesn't.The SolutionFUDI extracts RuBisCO protein from alfalfa—one of the most protein-rich commercial crops cultivated on Earth, producing approximately 2,000 pounds of protein per acre versus 935 for soybeans. RuBisCO is a complete protein with all 9 essential amino acids, and critically, it is colorless, flavorless, and odorless, making it ideal for clean-label food applications. The protein delivers superior functionality including high solubility, gelling, foaming, emulsification, and water retention, functioning as a true 1:1 replacement for egg white protein by mimicking albumin functionality. The company's proprietary extraction process uses mobile processing units deployed directly at farming sites immediately after harvest, achieving high extraction efficiency from fresh biomass while minimizing both extraction cost and environmental impact from transportation. The extraction technology is patent-pending.Business ModelFUDI operates as a B2B protein ingredient supplier to food and beverage manufacturers. The unit economics are driven by an extremely low cost of inputs: the post-extraction alfalfa biomass returned to farmers is highly valuable as a consistent feed ingredient with customizable moisture and nutritional content, so farmers provide raw alfalfa at very low prices or free because they receive value from the processed co-product. This circular supply chain model eliminates the need to build a proprietary agricultural supply chain from scratch. The company plugs into existing alfalfa production infrastructure, one of the most heavily produced crops on the planet. Target applications span baking, confectionary, beverages, meat products, dairy alternatives, and other food categories. The company projects 60% gross margins by Year 3 and $10M in revenue by Year 5 (not guaranteed).TractionThe company reports strong early B2B market interest from major players in baking, beverages, and the ingredients industry, with several NDAs in place and LOIs in process. Specific partner names are under NDA. Multiple startups that have raised tens of millions in the last 12-18 months are reportedly seeking access to FUDI's protein for their products. The company has established relationships with alfalfa growers from California to Wisconsin, with supply agreements in the process of being formalized. A mobile processing prototype has been developed in-house and is being refined with engineering partners. The company is pursuing FDA GRAS status. No revenue, completed commercial trials, or production volumes were disclosed—the company is pre-revenue and pre-commercial production.Market OpportunityThe company targets the $100B+ food ingredient industry, starting with the $60B+ protein market. FUDI competes primarily against egg and other animal protein ingredients rather than other plant proteins, positioning RuBisCO's superior functionality as enabling displacement of animal-derived ingredients at scale. The broader protein ingredient market is driven by consumer demand for plant-based, clean-label, and sustainable food products.TeamCEO and Co-Founder Udi Lazimy brings 25 years of leadership in food systems spanning operations, sustainability, business development, and policy. He was formerly Head of Supply Chain and Sustainability at Eat Just, where he launched Just Egg and added over $10M to the bottom line. He holds an MBA and MPA. CTO and Co-Founder Aniket Kale was formerly Director of Technology at The EVERY Company and Senior Engineer at Impossible Foods. He is a process development and scale-up expert with 20 years in sustainable foods and fuels from concept to commercialization, holding a PhD in Bioprocessing and dozens of patents.

FAQ