Extracellular: pioneering sustainable technology for the future of food

John Talbot, Audit Partner at Bishop Fleming, recently caught up with Will Milligan, CEO and Co-Founder of Extracellular, to discuss the company's leading innovations in biotech and their mission to accelerate the development and commercialisation of cultivated meat. Extracellular have also been shortlisted in four categories, including 'Best Startup', for The SPARKies 2023 awards.
 

So what do Extracellular do? 

Extracellular is a shining example of the groundbreaking innovation emerging from Bristol’s science scene. We’re on a mission to build the future bio-economy by providing leading research and development (R&D) that embraces sustainability and provides scale-up opportunities for the future of food, with a primary focus on growing real meat alternatives. Soon, thanks to our innovation, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between farm-raised meat and our lab-grown alternatives.
 

We’re accelerating the journey from concept to market and paving the way for other businesses to reduce the cost and time required for developing real meat alternatives. Our innovation will shorten the timeline significantly, enabling companies to bring these products to store shelves faster than ever before.

Extracellular and Will Milligan are up for several awards at this year’s Sparkies – tell us some more

Considering the business was founded only 18 months ago, we’ve already raised nearly $2m from investors excited about our vision, from Asia, US and UK, despite the challenging funding landscape, especially in the bio-tech sector. And, we’re still attracting lots of attention from investors around the globe who are keen to join our journey. 

Our Extracellular team has grown from just Will/me at the start to a team of 12 at present and we will be growing to 35 by the end of the year. There are some really exciting developments about our operations in Bristol which are due to be announced shortly. Keep your eyes peeled!
 

Our mission tackles critical challenges related to sustainable living and environmentally friendly dietary choices. Our real meat alternatives require only a fraction of the water and energy used in traditional meat production, making them an excellent option for individuals who seek eco-conscious alternatives. We aim to put the South West firmly on the map as a centre of excellence in this sector. The University of Bath is just opening its Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub as part of a £12m project, and the Bristol Bio Engineering Dept is already a key partner. 

What’s the vision?

To be a world leading R&D company for sustainable tech! 

Within a few years, we should have supermarket shelves filled with ethically produced meat alternatives, ensuring no animals are harmed while reducing energy and water consumption. This will make our lifestyles more sustainable.

Furthermore, we’re prepared to tackle other challenges using microorganisms, ranging from sustainable fuel sources to eco-friendly textiles. The possibilities are endless, and our innovation could very well contribute to the emergence of another Bristol Unicorn. We’re extremely proud to be another success story born out of Bristol's innovation ecosystem.