Meatly, a pioneer in the cultivated meat industry in Europe, has secured £10.4 million in Series A funding, marking a significant financial milestone for the company. The funding will support the construction of a state-of-the-art, 20,000-litre bioreactor facility in London, anticipated to be one of Europe’s largest. Having launched in 2022, Meatly strives to advance cultivated meat production by reducing costs and overcoming technical obstacles. The investment signals a strong vote of confidence from the biotech and foodtech sectors in the UK.
The cultivated meat industry has been gaining attention worldwide as companies seek sustainable alternatives to traditional meat production. Meatly has distinguished itself with its pioneering efforts and significant strides in cost reduction, achieving an industry-leading £0.22/litre for its protein-free medium in 2024 and dramatically cutting bioreactor costs by approximately tenfold in 2025. These breakthroughs laid the foundation for their achievement of regulatory authorization in 2024, which led to the sale of the first cultivated pet food in 2025.
What Developments Led to This Milestone?
Meatly’s journey includes innovative approaches to solving high-cost challenges inherent in the cultured meat sector. Through its cost-effective production techniques, the company aims to make cultivated meat an affordable market reality. The latest funding, received from investors including Oyster Bay Venture Capital, Clean Growth Fund, and JamJar Investments, builds upon a previous £7 million seed investment from Agronomics and Pets at Home, reaching a total of £17.4 million raised.
How Will This Impact Europe’s Foodtech Sector?
The new facility planned by Meatly in London is expected to be a cornerstone in scaling up cultivated meat production in Europe. This expansion could expedite the commercialization of lab-grown meats and solidify the UK’s position in the burgeoning foodtech landscape. Owen Ensor, CEO of Meatly, emphasizes the company’s commitment to bringing commercially viable cultivated meat to market, seeing the investment as a testament to their efforts.
“Meatly has one focus: to make commercially viable cultivated meat a reality.”
Connor Duffy of Clean Growth Fund highlights the climate benefits, stating that innovative protein production methods are crucial for reducing the environmental impact of meat production.
“Rethinking how we produce protein is an essential part of tackling the climate crisis.”
These sentiments underline the broader potential for cultivated meat to contribute to environmental sustainability.
Investor Elise Schumacher of Oyster Bay Venture Capital views Meatly’s work as foundational for a new protein category, aligning with the vision of developing a competitive and sustainable protein source. These insights reflect the industry’s anticipation regarding the evolution of this new market segment, offering insights into future directions.
As the cultivated meat sector continues to progress, the competition remains robust, with many players aiming for technological breakthroughs. Meatly’s emphasis on cost reduction and scalability positions it favorably in this competitive landscape. Continued focus on sustainability and innovation will likely propel the company’s future growth and impact in the global foodtech sector.
The funding and impending facility establishment have set the stage for Meatly to potentially lead innovations in the cultivated meat industry. This development could offer new insights into scalable solutions for the global challenge of sustainable food production.
