Bio-Design Collagen Maker Gets Funding

Geltor, the bio-design company behind Designer Collagen, today announced $18.2 million in Series A financing, led by Cultivian Sandbox Ventures. The round includes investment from Gelita, a global supplier of collagen proteins, and ADM Ventures, the venture investing arm of global food and feed ingredient provider, Archer Daniels Midland Company – alongside investment from Cavallo Ventures and Box Group.


According to Geltor, the consumer product industry is at an inflection point where the demand for collagen is surging, as is the consideration for what consumers are putting on their skin and in their bodies. Many people don’t realize that the collagen found in consumer products today is sourced from the skin and bones of livestock, raising ethical concerns from consumers and contributing to the growing threat of climate change.


Geltor has developed a proprietary bio-design platform where high-value proteins can be produced on a global scale. By combining biology, protein optimization, and fermentation, the company is able to produce naturally occurring and previously untapped types of collagen – precisely targeting the ideal protein type, rather than sourcing it from the low-grade availability of animal waste. This process also gives Geltor’s products an advantage over other commercially available animal proteins, since they’re bio-designed for strength, firmness and flexibility for optimum performance in consumer products, according to company executives.


“The industry standard for proteins right now is to use factory-farm waste to mimic the process our bodies make naturally. This method works at a base level, but it’s harmful to animals, the environment, and it doesn’t leverage the true power or benefits of collagen,” said Geltor CEO  Alexander Lorestani. “Geltor’s Designer Collagens deliver better functionality for consumers, a robust supply chain for businesses, and a sustainable alternative for our planet. They’re proteins we can be proud of, and I’m so excited to see the world’s biggest consumer companies choosing Geltor as their sustainable protein partner.”


The company’s flagship consumer product, N-Collage, is a bio-designed, clinically-tested collagen that delivers superior cellular regeneration, protection and derma-collagen synthesis. It’s billed as 100% vegan collagen technology that's engineered for unparalleled skin care performance. N-Collage is Halal-certified and the winner of the 2018 CEW Beauty “Innovation of the Year” award.


“At Cultivian Sandbox, we focus on identifying companies reinventing the food and agriculture industry with technology, and Geltor is doing just that,” said Dan Phillips, managing director, Cultivian Sandbox Ventures. “With a team of experienced and passionate PhD scientists behind it, and a unique, science-first approach, the company is pioneering a new industry standard for protein creation and we’re excited to be their partner on this journey.”


This latest funding round will allow the company to continue its mission of creating new, category-defining ingredients, expanding its product offering of 100% animal and GMO-free proteins. It also takes the company’s raised funding to $23 million to date.