At Oobli, our mission has always been to usher in a new generation of food that’s better for people and the planet. That’s why we’re beyond excited about our strategic partnership with Ingredion, a global leader in ingredient solutions. We announced this important collaboration back in February, and together, we’re poised to bring something truly extraordinary to food and beverage innovation: a new sweetener system that combines our cultivated sweet proteins — such as monellin and brazzein, both GRAS‑cleared by FDA — with Ingredion’s high‑quality stevia, resulting in a sweetness solution that’s as flexible as it is delicious. \
What’s brewing: The sweet protein + stevia synergy
From early product ideation and testing, consumer feedback was crystal clear: pairing Oobli’s protein‑based sweeteners with stevia takes sweetness to a new level. The result? Clean, sugar‑like taste, minimized bitterness, and optimal sweetness — all while supporting cost targets and nutrition/labeling goals.
Why this matters—and why now
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Regulatory proof point: Oobli sweet proteins are the first to receive FDA “no questions” letters for monellin and brazzein to be used as sweeteners, confirming their safety in food and beverage products.
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Strategic scale-up enabled: We recently closed an $18 million Series B1 round — backed by Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, Sucden Ventures, and our existing partners — which fuels our commercial scaling across food and beverage channels.
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Access to global reach: Ingredion serves thousands of customers across more than 120 countries.
Why we’re excited
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Better taste performance: Our sweet proteins suppress off‑notes often associated with some natural sweeteners, enabling a cleaner, better sweetness with no effect on blood sugar, insulin or the gut microbiome.
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Effective sugar reduction: Brands can dramatically cut down on sugar and more costly sweeteners.
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Plug‑and‑play flexibility: Working alongside stevia (and potentially other natural sweeteners), our proteins give product developers more precise sweetness control across textures and applications.
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Purpose‑driven advantage: Fermented, plant‑based sweet proteins use less land, water and carbon than sugarcane — a meaningful choice for health‑ and climate‑conscious brands
From Oobli’s perspective: Why we couldn’t be more thrilled
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Collaborating with industry leadership: Ingredion’s formulation know‑how and global infrastructure multiply the reach and impact of our proteins.
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Validation and momentum: FDA “no questions” status, investor confidence, and this high‑profile partnership together position Oobli to lead sweet protein commercialization in 2025 and beyond.;
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A shared vision: Our joint goal isn’t to replace other sweeteners — it's to enhance them. We’re co‑creating an ingredient solution that better aligns with health, taste and sustainability objectives.
By combining Oobli’s sweet protein innovations with Ingredion’s natural expertise, wide access and formulation power, this partnership marks a pivotal shift in the sweetener landscape. Consumers can soon look forward to best‑in‑class taste and clean label ingredients in their favorite treats — better for you and with a smaller environmental footprint.
The future of sweetness is protein‑powered, plant‑based and full of promise. Stay tuned — this is just the beginning.
