Shiru Expands AI-Powered Ingredient Discovery Platform with $16M Series B

Shiru, a startup focused on AI-driven protein discovery, has successfully completed a $16 million Series B funding round, primarily led by S2G Ventures and supported by CPT Capital, Lux Capital, Nourish Ventures, and Meach Cove Capital. This funding will accelerate the development of Shiru's innovative ProteinDiscovery.ai platform and diversify its ingredient offerings. Dr. Jasmin Hume, CEO of Shiru, outlined plans to leverage the capital to explore applications in flavor enhancement, skincare, and agricultural biopesticides, alongside further advancing their AI technologies and intellectual property. Shiru's mission extends beyond protein discovery, aiming to revolutionize ingredient innovation across various molecular classes, facilitated by their AI technology that cuts down development costs and time. Additionally, Shiru's platform, accessed via a web interface, provides a database offering solutions to customers' ingredient needs, supported by predictive AI models for protein expression in microbial systems. The company is also developing products like OleoPro, a plant-based structured fat, demonstrating the practical applications of its platform and generating immediate market interest. Moreover, Shiru is working on a clean-label replacement for methylcellulose to further its repertoire of innovative solutions, catering to the needs of industries focused on sustainable and consumer-friendly alternatives.