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Bulgarian startup company producing sunflower protein isolate is looking for new international partners

Summary

Profile Type
  • Business Offer
POD Reference
BOBG20250325012
Term of Validity
25 March 2025 - 25 March 2026
Company's Country
  • Bulgaria
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
A Bulgarian deeptech startup developing novel technologies for sunflower protein isolate manufacturing. Their proprietary 3-layer solution, rooted in advanced food engineering, addresses many of the historical challenges with producing sunflower isolate. Thus, they seek to commercialize this precious plant-based protein.
Full Description
The company is a leading European start-up developing novel technologies for the optimal extraction of sunflower protein isolate. Their three-layer technology combines extraction and microbial approaches to protein manufacturing. This solution is waste-free, GMO-free, patentable and solves many existing challenges in sunflower protein isolate manufacturing. Their sunflower protein isolate is nutritionally wholesome and complete. It has an essential amino acid profile that comes close to the composition of the human muscle. It is also allergen-free. Those two qualities make it stand out from market incumbents soy and pea. The product is also highly functional and clean. This ingredient is suitable for manufacturers of plant-based seafood and meat, as well as dairy and snacks.
With their sunflower protein isolate the company addresses a market for alternative proteins demanding nutritionally complete and allergen-free options that are deliverable at an affordable price. All of this without sacrificing organoleptic and functional properties.
The company has recently completed its first scale-up to a small pilot facility to supply partners with larger quantities of sunflower isolate for advanced product testing and development.
Advantages and Innovations
Sunflower protein is allergen-free. In contrast, soy allergies are relatively common, and even pea allergies are much more frequent than sunflower. In addition, anti-GMO concerns play a significant role in second-guessing the addition of soy products in many processed foods.
Sunflower protein is also nutritionally complete, possessing the full spectrum of essential amino acids in balanced ratios. Moreover, the spectrum of essential amino acids in sunflower protein comes very close to the composition of the human muscle. This is again unlike soy and pea which are arguably noncomplete with an insignificant methionine content.
Our product has close solubility, water holding capacity and emulsifying properties to soy and pea proteins, with slightly lower foaming capacity.
These functional properties render our sunflower protein isolate suitable for a wide range of applications across the plant-based foods industry. In particular, the company strongly recommend it in formulations of alternative seafood and meat, as well as plant-based dairy and snacks.
Market-wise, in applications clients would profit by utilizing our ingredient in that their retail products could be marketed explicitly as allergen-free and nutritionally wholesome. Such value-added in terms of product differentiation compounds the functional benefits of sunflower protein isolate.
Stage of Development
  • Available for demonstration
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
IPR status
  • IPR applied but not yet granted

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
We are looking for foreign manufacturers of plant-based foods and supplements
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME 50 - 249
  • SME 11-49
  • Big company
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement

Dissemination

Market keywords
  • 05008002 - Food and feed ingredients
Sector Groups Involved
  • Agri-Food
  • Health
Targeted countries
  • All countries