KBW Ventures has invested in US-based Bond Pet Foods' bridge round marking the VC’s second investment in the biotechnology (biotech) company and its fourth in cellular agriculture startups. 

Bond Pet Foods has recently developed a prototype for its lab-grown, vegan pet food meat protein through a microbial fermentation process. It took a one-time blood sample from a chicken to determine the genetic code necessary to produce the same type of protein that pets can use and benefit from.

 “Our initial tests with dog volunteers have been very promising, and its nutritionals, palatability and digestibility will only improve on our path to commercialisation,” said Pernilla Audibert, co-Founder and CTO of Bond Pet Foods. “The science team at Bond is also working on production of other cultured meat proteins made through a similar fermentation process. The successful chicken prototype is a demonstration of our technology’s potential to create a complete portfolio of animal proteins for pet consumption, and beyond.”

Bond’s first consumer product launched last May, its Protein-Packed Dog Treat Bar, made with a pure nutritional yeast.

Other investors in the round included Lever VC, Stage 1 and Trellis Road participating.