socaltech.com
Irvine-based
Longeve Brands, which is developing plant-based meat alternatives, said on Wednesday that it has raised $5M in a seed funding round. The funding came from Wavemaker Partners and Springboard Ventures. According to the startup, the funding will go to expand its plant-based protein product line. The company s shelf stable products are based on pea protein, and is aimed at what the company describes as the flexitarian market. The company is currently selling its products using a direct-to-consumer model, but said the funding will allow it to expand into retail and food service channels, and also to bring several new products to market. Llongeve s founder and CEO is Doug Canter. Longeve is a spinout of digital studio Cie, which is led by Anderee Berengian. As part of the funding, the company said that Berengian as well as Cie Executive-in-Residence, Jim Davis, will both join the company s board of directors.