Initialized Capital has led a pre-seed investment round in The Bland Company, a protein functionalization platform that transforms agricultural side streams into high-performance functional proteins, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities in the food manufacturing sector.

Information on the target

The Bland Company is a pioneering protein functionalization platform that leverages a proprietary biochemical process to transform undervalued agricultural side streams into high-performance functional proteins tailored for specific industrial applications. This innovative approach positions The Bland Company as a crucial player in the food manufacturing supply chain, which relies heavily on a limited array of commodity animal proteins to deliver essential functional properties such as solubility, emulsification, foaming, gelling, and binding.

By creating a diverse library of functional protein ingredients, The Bland Company addresses the volatility and fragility of existing supply chains. Their capital-light model is designed to integrate seamlessly into the procurement workflows of major food manufacturers, allowing for the adoption of these ingredients without necessitating significant changes to existing production lines.

Industry overview in the target’s specific country

The global food manufacturing industry is increasingly reliant on functional ingredients that can provide the necessary properties for processed foods. In this context, eggs serve as one of the most significant functional ingredients, with approximately one-third of glob