Believer Meats
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersJerusalem, Israel
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Believer Meats firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Believer Meats industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Believer Meats is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jerusalem
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices4 records
Markets served
Believer Meats business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cultivated chicken breast production cost |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Believer Meats product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Believer Meats
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Believer Meats technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Believer Meats partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GEAcoreStrategic 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)coreAbu 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 UniversitycorePartnership 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 AntlerminorLeading 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
Believer Meats competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Believer Meats social profiles
Digital presenceBeliever Meats compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Believer Meats financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Believer Meats leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Believer Meats funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors19 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Believer Meats M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Believer Meats
What does Believer Meats do?
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.
Is Believer Meats a public or private company?
Believer Meats is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently closed.
When was Believer Meats founded?
Believer Meats was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Believer Meats based?
Believer Meats is headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does Believer Meats make money?
One revenue line is on record: cultivated Meat Product Sales.
Who are Believer Meats's main competitors?
Beyond Meat is listed as a broad incumbent. GEA Group is listed as an others. Direct peers are Meatable, Mosa Meat, Wildtype, Mission Barns, SuperMeat, Aleph Farms, GOOD Meat (Eat Just) and UPSIDE Foods.
Does Believer Meats have an API?
No public API is recorded for Believer Meats.
What industry is Believer Meats in?
Believer Meats's product category is Cultivated Meat. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAGAI, Cultivated (Cell-Based) Protein Foods Manufacturing, with a secondary code of AFANAKAC, Cultivated Meat Producers (Cell-Cultured Meat & Seafood). Its NAICS code is 31161 and its SIC code is 2000.