Cult Factor

Our vision

At Cult Factor, our goal is to reduce waste and lower the cost of growth factors in cultivated meat production. By developing an engineered strain of Pichia pastoris, we aim to economically produce fibroblast growth factor (FGF2). Additionally, we propose a novel approach to recycling FGF by expressing Fc-tagged FGF through fermentation and chromatography. This process could significantly decrease the production cost of cultivated meat, bringing us closer to price parity with conventional meat. Our research provides a theoretical framework for further experimental exploration, contributing to a more sustainable and costeffective cultivated meat industry.

Our solution

Our solution is to produce growth factors (GFs) for cultivated meat production with an innovative approach that includes incorporating an Fc-tag for multiple usage, implementing a waste reduction strategy, and ensuring a reliable source of supply. This presents an opportunity because existing competitors offer recombinant GFs at a high cost that can only be used once, while our solution provides a cost-effective and scalable alternative. What makes our solution unique is the combination of recycling high-quality GFs, maximizing the value derived from waste reduction, and offering a reliable supply, positioning us as a leader in the market.

About the team

With backgrounds in biology, food technology, biotechnology, agriculture, and animal science, our team brings together a range of expertise, accompanied by a common interest for cellular agriculture technology. This diverse combination of disciplines is necessary to find novel solutions for waste reduction in cellular agriculture applications. We strive to use our combined skills to find innovative solutions for the cultivation of meat by utilizing wastes from the agri-food sector.

Team members:

Tin Rudnički

Paul Steinhardt

Adrian Hirt

Bernard Prasetyo

Nike Schiavo

Student Challenge