Believer Meats

What Believer Meats does

Believer Meats (legal entity: Future Meat Technologies Ltd.) was a cellular agriculture company founded in 2018 by Professor Yaakov Nahmias in Rehovot, Israel, developing cultivated meat produced directly from animal cells in bioreactors — without genetic modification and without slaughter. Its proprietary technology stack centered on spontaneous cell immortalization (fibroblast lines that proliferate indefinitely via natural telomerase/PGC1α activation), a centrifuge-based media rejuvenation process that recycles over 70% of nutrients, and serum-free growth media — collectively delivering cell densities above 100 billion cells per liter and a December 2021 production cost of $7.70 per pound of cultivated chicken breast. The company built a four-species product portfolio (chicken, lamb, beef, pork), secured FDA/USDA joint approval for cultivated chicken, and operated a dedicated foodservice GTM motion targeting restaurant operators, hotels, colleges, and hospitals via direct enterprise sales and a sample waitlist program.

The business model was a B2B foodservice sale of cultivated meat as a menu ingredient, with planned distribution concentrated out of a 200,000-square-foot commercial production facility in Wilson, North Carolina — designed for 10,000-12,000 metric tons of annual output — and a regional MENA buildout through a partnership with Abu Dhabi's AGWA cluster. The company raised approximately $387.75 million across disclosed rounds from a strategic investor base that included ADM Ventures, Tyson Ventures, Rich Products Ventures, Menora Mivtachim, S2G Ventures, Emerald Technology Ventures, and Bits x Bites. Despite regulatory clearance and the world's largest designed cultivated meat facility, Believer Meats ceased operations on December 10, 2025, after failing to secure additional funding and facing a $34 million construction-firm lawsuit, with assets placed into US receivership and IP ringfenced by an Israeli trustee.

Name

Believer Meats

Legal name

Future Meat Technologies Ltd.

Website

https://believermeats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Believer Meats was a cellular agriculture company developing non-GMO cultivated meat (chicken, lamb, beef, pork) for B2B foodservice operators. It operated from Israel, Chicago, and a Wilson, NC facility, and ceased operations in December 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultivated Meat

NAICS

Animal Slaughtering and Processing (31161), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultivated (Cell-Based) Protein Foods Manufacturing (AFAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultivated Meat Producers (Cell-Cultured Meat & Seafood) (AFANAKAC), Cell Culture Media & Growth Factor Suppliers (Food-Grade) (AFANAKAD)

Keywords

• Cultivated meat production
• Cellular agriculture technology
• Alternative protein manufacturing
• Foodservice meat supply
• Animal cell cultivation

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cultivated Meat Product Sales: B2B sales of cultivated chicken products to foodservice operators, restaurants, and commercial food service providers. Products designed to fit seamlessly onto menus as an ingredient in various dishes. Company was preparing for commercial launch with foodservice-focused sales motion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Believer Meats produced cultivated (cell-based) meat grown from non-GMO animal cells in bioreactors, including chicken, lamb, beef, and pork products. The company sold primarily to foodservice operators (restaurants, hotels, universities, hospitals) for use as menu ingredients, with secondary consumer marketing. Products were antibiotic-free, hormone-free, and cruelty-free, and were positioned as drop-in replacements for conventional meat in professional kitchens.

Product overview

Believer Meats was a cultivated meat company offering a portfolio of cell-based meat products including cultivated chicken (primary launch product), lamb, beef, and pork. The company operated as a unified product platform with its proprietary cell-cultivation technology enabling the production of multiple meat types from non-GMO animal cells. Products were targeted at both consumer markets and foodservice operators. The company ceased operations in December 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Believer Cultivated Chicken Cultivated chicken grown from non-GMO animal cells in a controlled environment, free from antibiotics, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors, cruelty- and slaughter-free, designed as a drop-in ingredient for restaurant menus and home cooking.
• Cultivated Lamb Cultivated lamb produced from two independent ovine fibroblast cell lines derived from Awassi sheep, looking, cooking, and tasting like conventional ground lamb and targeted at applications such as burgers and kebabs.
• Cultivated Beef Cultivated beef produced from animal cells without genetic modification, part of Believer Meats' multi-species cultivated meat portfolio alongside chicken and lamb.
• Cultivated Pork Cultivated pork produced from animal cells without genetic modification, part of Believer Meats' multi-species cultivated meat portfolio.
• Foodservice Cultivated Chicken Products Cultivated chicken products packaged and sized for foodservice operators and chefs, designed to fit seamlessly onto menus as a versatile ingredient in diverse professional kitchen applications, supported by a sales sample program and introductory calls.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% less land use and 80% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional meat production
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GEAcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 September 2024Strategic partnership with one of the world's largest suppliers of production scale equipment to food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. GEA developing and commissioning proprietary bioreactors for Believer's cell-cultivation technology. Focus on optimizing bioreactor technology, perfusion systems, and media rejuvenation. Joint development of technologies to improve unit economics and sustainability of cultivated meat production.
• AGWA (AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2024Abu Dhabi's new food and water cluster led by Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and Abu Dhabi Investment Office. Partnership to develop cultivated meat capabilities in Abu Dhabi including opportunity for regional headquarters, commercial operations for MENA market expansion, product manufacturing, and R&D. Plans for Believer Meats Innovation Academy for sustainable food technologies and talent development. AGWA aims to develop regulatory pathway and halal certification standards for cultivated meat.
• Bezos Earth Fund / North Carolina State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2024Partnership with Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at NC State, established through $30 million award from Bezos Earth Fund. Center aims to advance alternative protein production and commercialization to address projected global protein supply gap. Partnership complements Believer's Wilson facility and strengthens North Carolina's position as alternative protein hub. Believer contributing real-world solutions to meet increasing demand for protein.
• Red AntlerminorOthers · 14 November 2022Leading branding and design agency partnered with company to develop new brand identity and visual design during rebrand from Future Meat Technologies to Believer Meats in November 2022.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Beyond Meat: Established plant-based meat company that competed with conventional animal protein. While plant-based rather than cultivated, Beyond Meat is a broad incumbent in the alternative protein space that cultivated meat companies like Believer were positioned to disrupt or complement.

Others

• GEA Group: Major industrial equipment supplier that partnered with Believer to co-develop bioreactors and perfusion systems for cultivated meat. Relevant as an enabling infrastructure partner serving the broader cultivated meat industry with production-scale technology.

Direct peers

• Meatable: Dutch cultivated meat company producing cell-based pork and beef using proprietary pluripotent stem cell technology. Direct peer in cultivated meat targeting cost parity with conventional meat and regulatory approval in EU/US.
• Mosa Meat: Dutch cultivated beef company that produced the world's first lab-grown hamburger in 2013. Direct peer in cultivated meat using animal cell technology, pursuing cost reduction and regulatory approval in EU and other markets.
• Wildtype: Direct peer producing cultivated salmon from fish cells. One of the five companies with US cultivated protein regulatory clearance alongside Believer, UPSIDE, GOOD Meat, and Mission Barns. Targets foodservice and retail with cell-based seafood.
• Mission Barns: Direct cultivated meat peer producing cell-based pork fat and meat. One of the five companies with US FDA/USDA cultivated protein approval between 2022-2025. Targets food manufacturers and restaurants with cultivated pork products.
• SuperMeat: Israeli cultivated chicken company operating a pilot production facility. Closely comparable to Believer as an Israeli-founded cultivated meat startup with similar technology approach and B2B foodservice focus.
• Aleph Farms: Israeli cultivated meat company producing cell-based beef steaks. Comparable to Believer as a fellow Israeli-founded cultivated meat startup pursuing whole-cut meat production through proprietary cell technology and B2B foodservice strategy.
• GOOD Meat (Eat Just): Direct cultivated meat peer producing cell-based chicken; one of the first companies to receive regulatory approval for sale of cultivated meat (Singapore 2020, US 2023). Competes with Believer in the same product category and foodservice channel.
• UPSIDE Foods: Direct cultivated meat competitor producing cell-based chicken, beef, and duck. Notably expressed interest in acquiring Believer's Wilson, NC facility following Believer's December 2025 shutdown. Both companies received FDA/USDA approvals for cultivated chicken and target B2B foodservice.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/believermeats
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@believermeats
• Facebookfacebook.com/believermeats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/believer-meats
• Instagraminstagram.com/believermeats

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors19 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Believer Meats