Meatly Secures $14 M Series A to Build Europe’s Largest Cultivated‑Meat Plant

*TL;DR – Meatly has closed a £10 million ($14 million) Series A round to build a 20,000‑litre pilot plant in London, the biggest cultivated‑meat facility in Europe, while driving its serum‑free culture medium cost down to £1 per litre.

Context

Founded in 2021 as Good Dog Food, Meatly became the first company cleared by the UK regulator to sell cultivated meat for pets. After launching chicken‑based dog treats last year, the startup has focused on scaling the technology that grows meat from a single chicken‑cell sample. The new funding brings its total capital to £17.4 million.

Key Facts

- The £10 million Series A, led by existing backers Agronomics and new investors including Oyster Bay Venture Capital, will fund a 20,000‑litre pilot bioreactor – the largest of its kind in Europe. Site fit‑out starts immediately, with pet‑food product launches planned for 2027. - Meatly’s proprietary serum‑free culture medium now costs £1 per litre, a rise from 22 p per litre last year but still far below traditional media that can cost hundreds of pounds. The company targets 1.5 p per litre at full industrial scale. - A custom 320‑litre pilot bioreactor built by Meatly cost £12,500, roughly 95 % cheaper than conventional fermenters that can exceed £250,000. - Investor Elise Schumacher described the effort as “laying the foundations for an entirely new protein category,” highlighting cultivated meat’s sustainability and ethical advantages.

What It Means

The new plant positions Meatly to move from niche pet treats to broader commercial production, potentially lowering the price gap between cultivated and conventional meat. By controlling both bioreactor design and culture medium costs, the startup aims to achieve economies of scale that could make cultured protein viable for mainstream markets. Watch for the first commercial‑scale product releases and any partnership announcements that could accelerate entry into human‑food segments.