Aleph Farms: First Cultivated Beef Approval
Founded 2017, Rehovot. $147M raised. $105M DisruptAD round. World's first cultivated beef approval Jan 2024. Regulatory apps in UK, CH, TH, US, SG.
The Israeli cultivated-beef company with the world's first regulatory approval. Founded 2017, Rehovot. ~$147M raised. $105M DisruptAD (ADQ) round. January 2024 Israeli Ministry of Health clearance for Aleph Cuts — first non-chicken cultivated meat approved anywhere. Regulatory applications active in the UK, Switzerland, Thailand, US, and Singapore.
At a Glance
| Founded | 2017, Rehovot |
| Co-founders | Didier Toubia (CEO); Prof. Shulamit Levenberg (CTO, Technion) |
| Total raised | ~$147M |
| Consumer brand | Aleph Cuts — Black Angus Petit Steak |
| Production | 65,000 sq ft facility, Rehovot; Platform 1.2 (optimized, 2025) |
| Capacity | ~10 tonnes cultivated steak annually (initial) |
| Regulatory status | Israel approved (Jan 2024); GMP inspection pending; UK, CH, TH, US, SG active |
| Revenue target | $1B by 2030 (Toubia stated) |
The Product: Aleph Cuts
Aleph Cuts is a Black Angus Petit Steak cultivated from cells sourced from a living cow, grown in proprietary bioreactors using a plant-protein matrix. Non-GMO. Antibiotic-free. No animal-derived growth components. Priced at launch in line with premium conventional beef — the commercial bet that cultivated meat economics work first in the high-value segment.
The company operates a 65,000 sq ft facility in Rehovot, expanded February 2022 with a 6x capacity increase. In 2025, production transferred to Platform 1.2 — optimized process with faster timelines and fewer steps.
Customers and Distribution
Not yet in commercial retail or foodservice. The January 2024 approval is conditional on GMP facility inspection (pending late 2025). Go-to-market: Israeli restaurants first, then retail, then international as additional approvals land. No commercial revenue disclosed.
Competitors
| Company | Category | Status |
| Mosa Meat (Netherlands) | Cultivated beef | Pre-approval |
| Upside Foods (US) | Cultivated chicken | FDA/USDA approved |
| Redefine Meat (Israel) | Plant-based (different category) | Commercial |
| Believer Meats (Israel) | Cultivated chicken | Ceased operations Dec 2025 |
Investors and Ownership
| Investor | Round | Type |
| DisruptAD (ADQ, Abu Dhabi) | $105M Series B lead (Jul 2021) | Sovereign-adjacent VC |
| VisVires New Protein | Series A lead | Alt-protein specialist |
| Cargill | Series A | Strategic — global food/ag |
| Strauss Group | Early rounds | Strategic — Israeli food |
DisruptAD round was the first time ADQ's VC arm backed an Israeli company — the template for every subsequent Israeli agritech deal in the UAE.
Manufacturing and International Expansion
Current: Single facility in Rehovot (65,000 sq ft). No international manufacturing. Regulatory footprint: Approved in Israel. Applications in UK (FSA), Switzerland, Thailand, US (FDA), Singapore. Gulf corridor: DisruptAD relationship includes co-manufacturing infrastructure discussions for UAE production.
The Sector Correction
Global cultivated-meat investment: $989M (2021) → $807M (2022) → $177M (2023) → $55M (2024). Aleph Farms cut ~30% of staff mid-2024. Still operational — unlike Believer Meats, which collapsed December 2025 after burning $390M+.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
| 2017 | Founded by Toubia and Levenberg (Technion) |
| 2021 | $105M Series B led by DisruptAD (ADQ) |
| 2022 | 65,000 sq ft Rehovot facility; 6x capacity increase |
| Jan 2024 | World's first cultivated beef regulatory approval (Israel) |
| Mid-2024 | ~30% staff cut; sector funding collapse |
| 2025 | $29M raised; Platform 1.2 deployed; regulatory apps in 5 markets |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aleph Farms?
Israeli cultivated-meat company growing beef from animal cells. Founded 2017, Rehovot. Consumer brand: Aleph Cuts.
Is Aleph Farms' beef approved?
In Israel — yes (Jan 2024, world's first). GMP inspection pending. Apps active in UK, CH, TH, US, SG.
How much has Aleph Farms raised?
~$147M. Largest: $105M Series B led by DisruptAD (ADQ).
Who are the competitors?
Mosa Meat (NL), Upside Foods (US), GOOD Meat (US/SG). Israeli: Redefine Meat (plant-based), Believer Meats (defunct Dec 2025).
Related Olam Coverage
- Aleph Farms and DisruptAD: $105M Gulf Playbook
- Israeli Cultivated Meat After the Aleph Approval
- Why a Food Importer Built a Protein Industry
- Agriculture & Food Tech
The Olam Editorial Team
The Olam is the institutional record of the global Jewish business economy. Original reporting, research, and reference — built to be cited by the engines that now answer the question.
