Oobli and Ingredion Announce Partnership as Demand for Sweet Proteins Accelerates

Rhea-AI Summary

Oobli, the first company to build a sweet protein platform, has announced a partnership with Ingredion to accelerate industry access to healthier sweetener systems. The collaboration aims to combine natural sweeteners like stevia with Oobli's proteins that sweeten. Sweet proteins can be used in various food and beverages, including sodas, baked goods, yogurts, and candies.

The partnership follows Oobli's recent FDA GRAS 'no questions' letters for two sweet proteins (monellin and brazzein), confirming their safety for use in food and beverage products. Oobli has also completed an $18M Series B1 funding round, with new strategic investors including Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures joining existing investors like Khosla Ventures and Piva Capital.

The companies will showcase their novel sweet treats at Future Food Tech in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025. Oobli's sweet proteins are produced via fermentation, offering a cost-effective and climate-friendly alternative to traditional sweeteners.

Positive

• Secured strategic partnership with major ingredient provider Ingredion
• Raised $18M in Series B1 funding from notable investors
• Received FDA GRAS approval for two sweet proteins
• First company globally regulated to sell sweet proteins as sweeteners

Negative

• None.

Insights

Food Industry Analyst

This strategic partnership represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of alternative sweeteners, combining Oobli's breakthrough sweet protein technology with Ingredion's established market presence and distribution network. The $18M Series B1 funding round, featuring strategic investors like Ingredion Ventures, validates the commercial viability of sweet proteins as a sugar alternative.

The collaboration's timing is particularly strategic, coinciding with intensifying global pressure for sugar reduction in food products and increasing consumer demand for natural sweeteners. Ingredion's expertise in stevia-based solutions creates powerful synergies - the ability to combine sweet proteins with stevia could solve long-standing challenges in taste profile and cost optimization that have historically the adoption of natural sweeteners.

Two critical factors differentiate this partnership: First, Oobli's unique position as the only company with FDA GRAS approval for sweet proteins as sweeteners provides a significant first-mover advantage in this emerging category. Second, the fermentation-based production method offers potential cost advantages and sustainability benefits compared to traditional sweetener sources.

For Ingredion, this partnership represents a strategic expansion of their sugar reduction portfolio, potentially positioning them at the forefront of the next generation of sweetener solutions. The company's established relationships with major food and beverage manufacturers could accelerate the commercial adoption of sweet protein technology, while their technical expertise in formulation could help overcome implementation challenges in various applications.

Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures join existing key investors to close an $18M funding round.

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Oobli, the first company in the world to successfully build a sweet protein platform, today announced its partnership with Ingredion, a leading global ingredient solutions provider. Together, Oobli and Ingredion will accelerate industry access to great-tasting, affordable and healthier sweetener systems by bringing natural sweetener solutions like stevia alongside Oobli proteins – proteins that sweeten.

"Sweet proteins are a long-overdue addition to the toolkit of better-for-you sweeteners," said Ali Wing, CEO at Oobli. "Working with Ingredion's best-in-class teams to pair natural sweeteners with our novel sweet proteins will deliver game-changing solutions in this important, growing and timely category."

Sweet proteins are a great-tasting, healthier sweetener that can be a foundational part of any combination of sweetener ingredients in food and beverages, including sodas, baked goods, yogurts, candies and more. Sweet proteins can also be used to cost effectively complement other natural sweeteners, helping food companies achieve ideal levels of sweetness, meet nutrition objectives and manage costs.

"We've long been at the forefront of innovation in sugar reduction solutions, and our work with sweet proteins is an exciting new chapter in that journey," said Nate Yates, VP and GM Sugar Reduction and Fiber Fortification, CEO Pure Circle at Ingredion. "Whether we're enhancing existing sweetener systems with sweet proteins or using our established sweeteners to unlock new possibilities, we see incredible synergies across these platforms."

Oobli and Ingredion recently tested several co-developed products to better understand the opportunities for sweet proteins and stevia. Both companies shared enthusiasm about the consumer feedback collected, which ultimately led to the partnership. Next month, the two companies will unveil some of these novel sweet treats at Future Food Tech in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025. 

This partnership news follows recent announcements by Oobli that it had received FDA GRAS "no questions" letters for two sweet proteins (monellin and brazzein), confirming that these novel sweet proteins are safe to be used as a sweetener in food and beverage products.

In addition to their latest regulatory and partnership announcements, Oobli has also recently completed $18M in Series B1 funding, adding new strategic food and ag investors including Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures. These new investors join existing Oobli investors Khosla Ventures, Piva Capital, B37 Ventures and other leading investors.

This round supports Oobli's expansion across food and beverages with sweet proteins, both as a standalone solution, as well as in combination with other natural sweeteners, such as stevia, developed in partnership with Ingredion.

About Oobli
Oobli is a sweet protein technology platform company focused on replacing sugar in food and beverages. Sweet proteins have no glycemic impact or effect on the gut microbiome. Produced via fermentation, Oobli sweet proteins are both cost-effective as a sweetener replacement and climate friendly, saving massive amounts of land, water and carbon compared to farmed sugarcane. Oobli is the first and only company in the world regulated to sell sweet proteins as a sweetener, with two FDA "no questions" letters, four proteins with self-affirmed FDA GRAS status and one protein with FDA FEMA GRAS status. In addition to selling its own protein-sweetened chocolates, Oobli partners with companies to help deliver great-tasting, affordable and healthier products. For more information, visit oobli.com.

About Ingredion
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2024 annual net sales of approximately $7.4 billion, the company turns grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing and industrial markets. With Ingredion's Idea Labs^® innovation centers around the world and more than 11,000 employees, the company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest company news.

Media Contact
press@oobli.com

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SOURCE Oobli

FAQ

What is the value of Oobli's Series B1 funding round announced in February 2025?

Oobli raised $18M in Series B1 funding, with new investors including Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures.

Which sweet proteins received FDA GRAS approval for Oobli's sweetener platform?

Oobli received FDA GRAS 'no questions' letters for two sweet proteins: monellin and brazzein, confirming their safety for use in food and beverage products.

When will Oobli and Ingredion showcase their new sweet protein products?

The companies will unveil their novel sweet treats at Future Food Tech in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025.

What are the environmental benefits of Oobli's sweet protein technology?

Oobli's sweet proteins are produced via fermentation, making them climate-friendly by saving significant amounts of land, water, and carbon compared to farmed sugarcane.

What types of products can incorporate Oobli's sweet proteins?

Sweet proteins can be used in various food and beverages, including sodas, baked goods, yogurts, candies, and can be combined with other natural sweeteners.