Forte Protein Joins Center for Life Science Ventures
2022 Grow-NY finalist Forte Protein, a startup that has developed a technology to grow animal proteins inside plants, recently joined the Center for Life Science Ventures business incubator at Cornell University.
Forte Protein’s method can quickly, affordably, and sustainably grow animal proteins like collagen, myoglobin, ovalbumin, or casein in plants. With potential applications in food, beverage, health and wellness, and other industries, the company’s solution provides a low-carbon alternative to raising livestock.
As a doctoral student in 2019, co-founder and CEO Kathleen Hefferon participated in the first cohort of Women Entrepreneurs at Cornell (W.E. Cornell), a program that helps researchers commercialize their innovations. She was initially working to develop proteins for biofuels but changed focus to developing proteins for food during the COVID-19 pandemic.