Interviews and Resources for Entrepreneurs and Investors

Less Sugar, More Protein Using Mushroom Technology – Alan Hahn of MycoTechnology

Podcast interviewing Alan Hahn of MycoTechnology on using novel fungi technology to reduce sugar, improve taste and create sustainable proteins.

This is the second interview in a two-part series on novel food ingredient technology companies for sugar reduction. You can also check out the first interview with Ed Rogers of Bonumose.

Alan Hahn is the co-founder and CEO of MycoTechnology, a food ingredient technology company. The company creates fungi-based powders using a proprietary fermentation process. Their product line today includes a taste modulating powder called ClearTasteTM and a protein powder called PureTasteTM. They’ve also shown the ability to remove toxins in foods and are working through “probably a lifetime of ideas” in using fungi to improve food. The big wins today though are that their ClearTasteTM product allows food manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar they use in foods without sacrificing taste. Approved in over 70 countries, you may have eaten food with their powder in it (you wouldn’t know). And their protein is vegan, allergen friendly, non-GMO, highly sustainable and has minimal taste and aroma – making it a useful ingredient for companies making meat alternative foods. Having just raised $42 million in funding in their Series B funding round, MycoTechnology is just getting started.

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In this interview, we cover:

  • [4:15] The technology using fungi
  • [6:56] You may already be eating MycoTechnology’s mushrooms
  • [9:35] The company’s new protein, PureTasteTM
  • [13:41] What protein is this replacing?
  • [21:25] How MycoTechnology got started
  • [26:09] “Probably a lifetime of ideas” to work on
  • [27:49] Challenges in building and scaling MycoTechnology
  • [33:02] Biggest Surprises in building in the Food Industry and Fundraising
  • [36:18] Advice for startups

Learn more about MycoTechnology and fungi:

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  • Drop me an email at mike [at] foodaginnovators [dot] com, or leave a comment below.
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