Innovative biotechnology company Roslin Technologies raised a multi-million-dollar investment from the Ayala Corporate Technology Innovation Venture Fund or Active Fund, managed by Kickstart Ventures, a corporate venture capital firm wholly-owned by Globe Telecom.
The investment follows Roslin Technologies’ successful Series A round of £11.5 million in late 2022.
Based in Scotland, Roslin Technologies spun out from Roslin Institute, known for its ground-breaking invention of Dolly the Sheep in the mid-1990s. The company specializes in stem cell technology for cultivated meat, which is meat grown directly from animal cells without raising animals. Roslin Technologies is the first and leading company to provide animal stem cells to cultivated meat producers across the world.
“Roslin Technologies, with their scalable, IP-rich approach and innovative technology, offers a compelling and commercially attractive solution. Together, we strive to create a sustainable future for food to alleviate hunger and food insecurity,” said Kickstart Ventures vice president of investments Michael Maté.
Data show that in the Philippines, 12 percent of the population faces involuntary hunger, while the overall population and dependence on food imports continue to grow.
Roslin Technologies ships its cells to customers across North America, Europe and Asia. In line with its thesis of “A World of Plenty”, which invests in the future of resource availability, Kickstart Ventures’ investment will help solidify Roslin Technologies’ footprint in Asia, a strategic market for the company’s technology.
It will also further strengthen Rosin Technologies’ international shareholder base, which includes the University of Edinburgh, Future Planet Capital, Novo Holdings, Kairos Capital Group and Nutreco and other international investors.
Kickstart Ventures President Minette Navarrete said Roslin Technologies offers a solution that augments the world’s limited capacity to feed a growing population at scale and with speed. “The persistent complex issue of food insecurity demands multiple transformative solutions, and this investment is meaningful for future food security globally, especially in emerging markets like the Philippines,” Navarrete said.
Apart from the investment, Kickstart Ventures will also provide an observer on the board so the biotechnology company can benefit from the CVC’s expertise.
