Northern Gritstone leads a £3.5m seed round investment in MicroLub.
- MicroLub addresses the global obesity crisis with innovative technology.
- The spinout creates low-calorie solutions maintaining food mouthfeel.
- The investment supports MicroLub’s market expansion and partnership development.
- University of Leeds research advances UK leadership in tackling health inequalities.
Northern Gritstone, alongside co-investors LIFTT and NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, has pledged a significant £3.5 million in seed funding towards MicroLub, a promising spinout from Leeds University focused on food technology innovations. This investment represents a concerted effort to support cutting-edge businesses in the Northern region with a particular emphasis on science and technology.
MicroLub is tackling a pressing global issue: obesity, which is predicted to result in a staggering $4.3 trillion in annual health costs worldwide. Over half of the global population is on track to become overweight or obese within a decade. In response, MicroLub’s groundbreaking technology adds lubrication to food products, reducing fat and oil content while maintaining the desired mouthfeel. This is achieved through innovative ‘scaffolds’ composed of protein, water, and polysaccharides, effectively offering less-calorific alternatives.
The technology is not only poised to make food products healthier but also aims to enhance the sustainability of the alternative protein industry by diminishing the astringency of plant-based foods. This approach aligns with current trends in food consumption and production, targeting a substantial market of reduced-fat and plant-based products, currently valued at over $120 billion across Europe, the US, and the UK.
With robust interest already garnered from major food and ingredient companies, this funding is critical in advancing MicroLub’s commercial endeavours. It will facilitate the expansion of the company’s team and foster new partnerships, propelling its innovative solutions into mainstream markets. Professor Anwesha Sarkar, MicroLub’s founder, noted the technology’s vast potential applications, a sentiment echoed by MicroLub’s CEO, David Peters, who emphasised the significant market opportunities.
Northern Gritstone’s CEO, Duncan Johnson, expressed enthusiasm for supporting MicroLub, recognising the innovation emerging from the University of Leeds as pivotal in addressing global health challenges. Furthermore, Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, highlighted the UK’s pivotal role in combating health disparities through such transformative research initiatives.
MicroLub’s funding marks a significant step in advancing health-focused food technology innovation globally, placing the UK at the forefront of this movement.