OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also an investor in Uncommon, a UK-based “lab-grown meat” startup, focused on the global pork market.

Uncommon, previously known as Higher Steaks, has announced that it has secured $30 million in Series A funding. The funding round was led by Balderton Capital and Lowercarbon Capital.

Uncommon, founded by Benjamina Bollag and Dr. Ruth Faram in Cambridge, specializes in using cell agriculture and RNA technologies to cultivate meat for the global pork market. The company’s mission is to replace animals in meat production for the betterment of human health.

With this latest funding, Uncommon aims to further develop its innovative approach, expand production at its pilot manufacturing facility in Cambridge Technopark, hire skilled personnel, and navigate the necessary regulatory approvals. (vegconomist)

Redalpine, East Alpha, and previous investors Max and Sam Altman, Miray Zaki, and Sebastiano Castiglioni also participated in the funding round.

Uncommon’s unique RNA technology, based on Nobel Prize-winning research and biomimicry, allows them to cultivate bacon and pork belly from a single animal cell sample. Their technology promises cost-effectiveness, high quality, and scalability without the need for gene editing, giving them an advantage in obtaining regulatory approval.

Additionally, cultivated meat production eliminates the need for antibiotics, animal products, and harmful chemicals, making it a sustainable solution for antibiotic resistance.

Uncommon aims to capture a 5% share of the pork market by 2035, offering a delicious and affordable product that addresses the challenges faced by the industry. The company believes that its RNA technology gives them a competitive edge and the potential to become the largest protein company globally.

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