In Philadelphia, a startup is pursuing cultured meat for your pets. Founded in 2016 by Shannon Falconer and Joshua Errett, Because Animals has already demonstrated production of cultured mouse tissue without using fetal bovine serum. By using a proprietary growth media instead of serum extracted from pregnant cows after slaughter, Because Animals will be able to claim 100% cruelty-free pet food.
The startup hopes to launch animal free pet food in 2021. In the meantime, the company is selling cultivated yeast dog cookies and a cell-based probiotic it launched in 2018 to support pet digestion and immunity. It also raised an undisclosed amount in 2019 from KEEN Growth Capital, Draper Associates and SOSV.