SP Investment Fund LLC is a company that has had impressive investment results in the emerging technology and real estate spheres. Among the enterprises SP Investment Fund LLC has invested in is c16 Biosciences, which is launching Palmless, its fermentation-based palm oil replacement. Release of the new product is targeted for the personal care segment in 2023, and for the food segment in 2024.
Seeking to end the dominance of traditional palm oil, which is land and carbon emissions intensive, c16 Biosciences has developed a robust non-GMO oleaginous yeast strain. This “super-productive” microorganism generates as much as 90 percent lipids by weight, resulting in a fatty acid profile that resembles palm oil closely. The yeast strain is not very sensitive to pH and temperature changes, and can consume a wide range of feedstocks. These include sucrose, glycerol, glucose, and various carbon sources, with the yeast thriving even when not fed for an extended period.
One major challenge for c16 Biosciences has centered on how to obtain the oil from where it is contained, which is within the walls of the yeast cells. A “short and sweet” method has recently been developed for disrupting the cells through downstream processing. In order to make the business grow, the company is seeking a foothold in the most profitable markets first, such as health and beauty.
