Liven

Liven Proteins is a Canadian ingredient company founded in 2020 by Fei Luo and Dr. Pratish Gawand. The company operates in the food technology sector, specifically focusing on producing animal-free, functional protein ingredients for the food and beverage industry. Its business model is centered on business-to-business (B2B) sales of these ingredients to companies that manufacture plant-based foods.

The founders' backgrounds are rooted in biochemical engineering. Fei Luo, the CEO, holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto and has prior experience in environmental biotechnology, including creating solutions for environmental remediation. This experience with microbial transformations provided the foundation for Liven's precision fermentation approach. Co-founder Dr. Pratish Gawand is an expert in bioprocess engineering with over fifteen years of experience and also holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto. His entrepreneurial background includes co-founding Ardra Inc., a synthetic biology company in the flavor and fragrance industry, and experience at the pharmaceutical company Biocon Ltd.

Liven employs a proprietary precision fermentation technology that utilizes genetically engineered microorganisms, like yeast, to convert under-utilized plant-based materials and side streams from the food and agriculture industry—such as pea starch and spent grains—into high-value protein ingredients. This process is designed to be scalable, reproducible, and contribute to a circular economy by upcycling materials that might otherwise be considered waste. The resulting proteins are purified to ensure they are clean-label and free from off-odors.

The company's initial product focus is on animal-free collagen and gelatin. These ingredients are developed to address functional challenges in plant-based food formulations, enhancing sensory profiles to better mimic their animal-based counterparts. For example, their collagen, a soluble white powder, can improve the texture and mouthfeel of plant-based products, add juiciness to meat alternatives, and create fluffiness in baked goods. Beyond food, the company is exploring applications for its ingredients in joint health and anti-aging products. Liven has received funding from investors including Plug and Play Tech Center, Dao Foods, and Protein Industries Canada to scale its technology and operations.

Keywords: precision fermentation, animal-free protein, food technology, ingredient manufacturing, B2B ingredients, sustainable protein, upcycling, food side streams, circular economy, alternative proteins, collagen, gelatin, biochemical engineering, plant-based foods, food formulation, synthetic biology, microbial fermentation, functional ingredients, sustainable food, food waste reduction