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Shiru, an AI-driven ingredient discovery platform, raised a $16 million Series B,  CEO Jasmin Hume tells Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: The use of AI can significantly cut down the time needed to discover and develop new ingredients.

Zoom in: The round was led by S2G Ventures, with participation from CPT Capital, Lux Capital, Nourish Ventures and Meach Cove Capital.

It increases Shiru's total funding to date to $36 million, Hume says.

Proceeds will be invested in expanding its ingredient portfolio and scaling commercialization.

How it works: "We use the same type of LLMs that are used by structural biologists to understand protein function," Hume says.

Shiru can digitally predict a protein's function, manufacture them and test them in the lab, she says.

The IP it develops as a result will either be sold or licensed out, Hume says.

An agreement could include a licensing fee or royalty, she says.

Catch up quick: Applying AI to help understand molecular function has been around for a decade, says Hume. Shiru was started more than five years ago to apply it to ingredient discovery. 

The intrigue: A big focus for the company are nature-identical proteins that enhance sweetness, Hume says.

Currently there's a handful of such proteins, but by using its technology platform, Shiru can discover scores of them, she says.

It's a process that would normally require a large ingredient manufacturer to invest years of research and tens of millions of dollars into.

What's next: Shiru is building a "comprehensive platform" for ingredient discovery in skin care and agriculture, like herbicides and pesticides, she says.

Exclusive: AI-driven ingredient discovery startup Shiru raises $16M

It brings the total amount raised by the company to $36 million.

an illustration of a test tube stand  that contains three test tubes, a fork, a knife and a spoon 

Funding

Shiru, an AI-driven <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ingredient" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2024/10/21/specialty-ingredients-mergers-acquisitions-activity" data-vars-content-id="717133ba-67de-45e2-9598-dd306fab47e9" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: AI-driven ingredient discovery startup Shiru raises $16M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2024/10/21/specialty-ingredients-mergers-acquisitions-activity" target="_self">ingredient</a> discovery platform, raised a $16 million Series B, CEO Jasmin Hume tells Axios exclusively.Why it matters: The use of AI can significantly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cut down the time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/30507-ift-first-report-how-ai-plays-into-the-development-of-food-ingredients" data-vars-content-id="717133ba-67de-45e2-9598-dd306fab47e9" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: AI-driven ingredient discovery startup Shiru raises $16M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/30507-ift-first-report-how-ai-plays-into-the-development-of-food-ingredients" target="_blank">cut down the time</a> needed to discover and develop new ingredients.

Exclusive: AI-driven ingredient discovery startup Shiru raises $16M

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