Change Foods, a vegan dairy start-up developing cheese from microbes, has moved a step closer to its US market debut with US$2.1m in seed financing.

The Palo Alto, California-based animal-free cheese business, founded by CEO David Bucca, said it has now received $3.1m in total funding ahead of its expected first product launch in 2023.

Joining the latest round were Plug and Play Ventures, a venture-capital investor in California, and peer Clear Current Capital in Florida. Jeff Dean, the head of Google’s artificial intelligence division, Canada-based investment bank Canaccord Genuity, and Better Bite Ventures, another venture capitalist in California, also contributed, along with the Italian investment fund Gerber-Rauth.

Bucca said the business is developing cheese “harnessing the power of microbes instead of animals to create dairy foods that are indistinguishable from their animal-based predecessors on taste and texture, while delivering products that are more sustainable and better for you”.

The technology allows the retention of protein and calcium but without hormones, cholesterol and antibiotics.

Just Food has approached the company to clarify what cheese products will be first off the manufacturing floor.

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Michelle Shi, a director at Plug and Play Ventures, added: “We’re excited to support Change Foods in their journey to disrupt one of the largest food segments in the world – bringing cheese to consumers without the cow. With their precision fermentation technology, we look forward to seeing them scale their technology in its entirety.”