Shiru, a leader in AI-powered ingredient discovery, has announced a new $16 million funding round aimed at expanding its impact across food, personal care, agriculture, and advanced materials industries.

With the recent launch of its innovative platform, ProteinDiscovery.ai, Shiru is set to redefine how sustainable, high-value ingredients are discovered and utilized on a global scale.

About Shiru

Shiru is reshaping the ingredient landscape with its innovative AI-powered Flourish™ technology.

Its platform, ProteinDiscovery.ai, leverages a vast database of over 33 million molecules, offering an advanced suite of tools for companies in food, personal care, agriculture, and advanced materials to discover sustainable, high-performance ingredients.

With a team of skilled technologists and experts, Shiru is backed by leading venture capital firms and is dedicated to advancing sustainability and innovation in ingredient science.

Redefining Ingredient Discovery with ProteinDiscovery.ai

Shiru’s proprietary platform, ProteinDiscovery.ai, is at the heart of its mission.

Utilizing AI to analyze the world's largest database of natural proteins derived from plants and microbes, the platform enables companies to identify, test, and scale natural ingredients quickly and efficiently.

This tech-driven approach slashes research and development timelines and costs, helping partners innovate with nature-inspired, sustainable ingredients.

"AI-powered discovery isn’t just a glimpse into the future of ingredient innovation—it’s a reality today," stated Dr. Jasmin Hume, Shiru’s Founder and CEO. "Our platform empowers R&D teams across multiple industries to introduce groundbreaking products while significantly reducing time-to-market and costs."

Strategic Funding to Fuel Growth and Drive Industry Transformation

Led by S2G Ventures and backed by major investors like CPT Capital, Lux Capital, Nourish Ventures, and Meach Cove Capital, this latest funding brings Shiru’s total financing to $36 million.

The investment will enable Shiru to further expand its ingredient offerings and develop new features for ProteinDiscovery.ai, addressing growing demand from global partners seeking advanced AI-driven solutions.

Shiru has already established influential partnerships with industry giants such as Griffith Foods and Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition.

These collaborations allow Shiru to address some of the industry’s biggest challenges, such as developing sustainable sweet proteins and alternative fats.

Key Innovations in Shiru’s Ingredient Portfolio

The company’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its recent advancements:

• Sweet Protein Development with Ajinomoto: Shiru is working with Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition to develop scalable sweet protein solutions—a breakthrough that could reduce sugar reliance in the food industry.
• Introduction of OleoPro™: This patented, high-performance fat alternative provides a natural, structured fat solution, addressing growing consumer demand for healthier, sustainable options. Its active protein ingredient, uPro™, enhances product performance without compromising on sustainability.
• Global Partnerships for Sustainable Solutions: Through collaborations with industry leaders like Griffith Foods, Shiru continues to expand its reach and capability in developing sustainable ingredients.

A Vision for the Future of Ingredient Innovation

While the focus remains on proteins, Shiru’s ambitions extend well beyond. With ProteinDiscovery.ai as the foundation, the company envisions a comprehensive platform capable of discovering a wide array of sustainable ingredients across molecular classes.

By expanding the platform’s scope, Shiru aims to make its revolutionary technology accessible to more industries and applications, driving industry-wide transformation.

"Our goal is not only to create a marketplace of high-value ingredients but to empower industries to innovate sustainably," Hume said. "This investment allows us to enhance our platform and develop more industry-defining solutions."

Shiru’s work underscores the critical role of AI in creating sustainable, functional ingredients that meet the demands of modern industries.