DaystoCome, a plant-based alternative meat startup utilizing complex lactic acid bacteria fermentation technology, announced that it has successfully attracted seed investment from Series Ventures. The specific investment amount was not disclosed.

DaystoCome, established in July 2023, operates its own brand named UINFRESH. Through intensive R&D, the company has developed a high-protein, low-fat plant-based ham that addresses the characteristic off-flavors and tastes often associated with alternative meats. Following this development, they launched two types of frozen fried rice products that incorporate this innovative ham.

The plant-based alternative meat market is considered a blue ocean, with projections indicating it will constitute 25% of the total meat market in the future. Recent trends, including interest in slow aging and the necessity of a balanced intake of plant and animal proteins, have led to a surge in demand for plant-based protein. However, many existing products in the market struggle to meet consumer expectations due to the distinct, often unfamiliar taste and high price points of plant-based alternative meats.

DaystoCome has tackled these challenges by becoming the first in Korea to apply complex lactic acid bacteria fermentation technology. DaystoCome’s plant-based ham not only closely mimics the taste of traditional animal-based ham but also offers superior nutritional value, boasting 21g of protein per 100g and utilizing Non-GMO ingredients. Furthermore, by employing DaystoCome’s proprietary low-temperature, low-pressure texturization technology, rather than the conventional HME method, the company has reduced production facility costs by over one-third, thereby achieving significant cost competitiveness.

Jun-sang Park and Sung-wook Kwak, co-CEOs of Series Ventures, commented, “As demand for plant-based protein continues to grow steadily, DaystoCome has surpassed the existing limitations of the alternative meat market through its complex lactic acid bacteria fermentation technology. We anticipate that a team possessing such exceptional technological prowess and cost competitiveness will emerge as a leader in the plant-based food sector.”

Kwang-oh Heo, CEO of DaystoCome, added, “Our goal is to consistently introduce a diverse range of healthy and nutritious food products that offer lasting value to our customers. This investment will enable us to accelerate the development of new products and achieve rapid growth, positioning us as a leading enterprise in the plant-based food market, both domestically and internationally.”