As we all know and are quite aware of how a nutrient-rich diet plan can help people maintain and lead a good and healthy lifestyle, a diet that has all the right essential nutrients can help the body function, repair, and grow properly and reduce the chances of falling prone to infections and diseases. Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water are six of the most important essential nutrients for the normally healthy functioning of the body. Today, when most people around the globe are all about switching to alternative forms of meat rather than continuing with the consumption of meat from slaughtered animals, the drive for ‘veganism’ is only increasing and gaining more momentum. Some vegans or vegetarians are required to switch to a more green and plant-based protein diet for medical reasons as opposed to the non-vegans who can consume and digest meat with no concerns whatsoever. Thus we learn the imperativeness of the initiatives taken toward adopting more sustainable forms of food systems that are charted out for the people to lead clean green energy lifestyles that preserve the Earth’s ecosystem and biodiversity without causing any harm or disruptions. 

To protect our planet and its inhabitants as well as to provide a nutrient-rich diet for humans, many innovations in the food and beverage industry have taken over and delivered meat and milk alternatives for vegans. Be it substituting or replacing real meat entirely with a plant-based ingredient such as Tofu, Chickpeas, Mushrooms, Soybeans, and more, several brands and companies in the industry aim to make their vegan food products closely resemble the same texture, taste, and nutritional profile of real traditional meat. In line with understanding the people’s nutritional needs, one such American company in Colorado bridged this gap with Meati. By paving the way to unlocking the most delicious, equitable, highly nutritious, fun, and sustainable food system for all, Meati Foods was founded in 2017 by two co-founders – Tyler Huggins and Justin Whiteley. Therefore, in this article, we will delve into learning how the co-founders banded together to grow their idea of manufacturing and establishing a meat alternate food system and brand that uses mushroom roots as the main ingredient which delivers resemblance to taste, texture, and nutrient profile of real traditional meat. 

The Creators and Scientists Who Founded Meati: 

It all started a few years ago. Tyler Huggins’ education includes a Master of Science Degree in Environmental and Sustainable Engineering from the University of Colorado Denver and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. Justin Whiteley’s education includes a Master of Science Degree and a Ph.D. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. 

With their shared love and passion for the environment, plants, botany, ecology, and sustainability, the two co-founders first met each other in 2015, in the Electrochemical Energy Laboratory (ECEL) at The Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, USA. Tyler reached out to this laboratory during his extensive research into the capabilities of the Mushroom Root (mycelium) to learn if this species of fungi could be used in batteries – the technology research that was getting a lot of attention at the time. Justin, a member of the ECEL, met Tyler and sat down together for a long time and spoke about their respective scientific journeys, side projects, and the capabilities of the Mushroom Root protein. They spoke and discussed how they could cultivate and harvest this mycelium fungus and use it as a nature-based technology from biomanufacturing battery components to food products. Thus in 2015, Tyler and Justin joined hands and began their collaborative journey. 

The Birth of The Nature-Based Platform:

In 2016, a true nature-based platform called Emergy was established by Tyler and Justin, who used the Mushroom Root to meet all kinds of critical human needs, from energy storage to food. After completing their doctorate programs, the two wrote a research paper together called “Controlled Growth of Nanostructured Biotemplates with Cobalt and Nitrogen Codoping as a Binderless Lithium-Ion Battery Anode”, which was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. The two signed up for the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program at the end of the year. Their research paper throws much light on the discussions of how the growth of Mushroom Roots can be controlled and grown for various reasons. The I-Corps Program helped scientists understand how their research can be used to build companies and brands that address real-world problems. The concept of using Mycelium Fungus as the main ingredient for an alternative meat food product in 2017 grew rapidly. Later, while researching more innovative methods to take this idea and process to the next step it became the main focus of the founders in 2018. Tyler and Justin soon acquired a $4.8M seed round and a grant from the National Science Foundation and finally introduced Meati Foods to the world in 2019. 

Meati – Whole-Cut Alternatives to Animal-Based Meals:

Renaming Emergy to Meati in 2019, Tyler and Justin focus on food products aiming to deliver whole-cut alternatives to animal-based meals. By adding Meati’s “Bahn Meati” sandwich to menus at SALT – a bistro on Pearl Street in Boulder, CO, many people soon started to order the sandwich which garnered more rapid attention from consumers. This led to Meati raising $28M in Series A Funding in 2020. In the following year, the co-founders secured a space for establishing a ranch that would grow the Mushroom Root. Soon after, Meati again raised $50M in Series B Funding. 

In 2022, Meati formed a Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) with Birdcall that included the brand in its aim to “make natural foods more affordable and accessible.” After launching a Direct-to-Customer store and a partnership with David Chang – a chef and founder of Momofuku and Majordomo Media, Meati took to selling all of its Meati Cutlets in minutes! Then, with the introduction of the Meati Classic Steak, another $150M in Series C Investment, and the Carne Asada Steaks, Meati kept expanding its shelves and brand awareness in the media outlets. In 2023, the ranch was expanded to produce tens of thousands of pounds of the Mushroom Root. With Fast Company and TechCrunch picking up coverage on Meati’s food products, the brand is now swinging in full motion today through Eat Meati – the company that provides “delicious, nutritious, and Eath-friendly nutritions to everyone.” Sustainable meat alternatives that are simple and healthy, with Meati at your local supermarkets and stores, a 95% Mushroom Root is included in every tasty cutlet, steak, and more!