Revolutionizing Food Production: Pacifico Biolabs Secures €7 Million to Transform German Breweries into Protein Powerhouses

Pacifico Biolabs: Revolutionizing the Protein Industry with Mycelium-Fermentation Technology

Pacifico Biolabs, a pioneering mycelium-fermentation protein company based in Berlin, has successfully concluded a Series A funding round, securing €7 million. The primary goal of this funding is to ramp up production capacity to 200 tonnes per month and facilitate commercial launches across the DACH and Nordic regions, with production operations centered in Saxony, Germany.

Notable investors in this round include Stray Dog Capital, TGFS, Sprout & About Ventures, Simon Capital, FoodLabs, and a regional brewery partner, underlining the growing interest in alternative protein solutions.

Andres Manzanares, Principal at Stray Dog Capital, commended Pacifico’s innovative approach, stating, “After a decade of supporting alternative protein companies, we recognize Pacifico as a frontrunner in addressing the challenges that have hindered the industry’s growth. By leveraging existing infrastructure to produce clean-label, nutritious, and cost-effective meat alternatives that closely mimic traditional animal products, Pacifico is offering a viable solution to the current protein supply chain constraints.”

Established in 2022 by Zac Austin and Washington Logroño, Pacifico Biolabs specializes in cultivating meat using advanced mycelium fermentation biotechnology. The company’s unique selling proposition lies in its ability to tackle the longstanding hurdles faced by alternative proteins, namely cost, texture, and nutrition. Pacifico asserts that its fermented mycelium products effectively address all three aspects, boasting a natural meat-like structure and a neutral flavor profile that make them ideal ingredients for food manufacturers. This approach minimizes the need for additives and ensures a solid foundation for private label products.

Moreover, Pacifico emphasizes its commitment to achieving cost parity with traditional meat products, a critical factor that has impeded the widespread adoption of alternative proteins. By utilizing existing brewery infrastructure for production, the company aims to achieve cost parity from the outset, leveraging standard beer brewery tanks for its fermentation process. This strategy eliminates the need for specialized bioreactors and substantial capital investments, capitalizing on the surplus fermentation capacity in breweries across Europe.

Zac Austin, co-founder and CEO of Pacifico Biolabs, elucidated on their innovative approach, stating, “We are not merely building a food ingredient company; we are harnessing European industrial infrastructure for the future of food. By blending German brewing heritage with modern biotechnology, we are repurposing historical hardware to drive the evolution of nutrition.”

Furthermore, Pacifico positions itself as a proponent of European protein sovereignty, championing the production of high-quality protein locally to align with consumer demand. Sören Schuster from TGFS highlighted the company’s asset-light model as a solution to the industry’s scaling challenges, emphasizing the significance of leveraging European resources for sustainable growth.

With the additional funding secured, Pacifico plans to expand its team in Leipzig and expedite its commercial partnerships. Consumers can anticipate the availability of Pacifico’s products on retail shelves through strategic brand and retailer collaborations by late 2026.