Barcelona-based food tech company Väcka has closed an investment round of €1.1 million, with investors including Birdman, Capital V and Big Idea Ventures.

The investment will enable Väcka to develop new technologies aimed at improving “the texture, behaviour and elasticity” of its current product offering, as well as aid its commercial and international expansion.

Luz Sanz, co-founder and CEO of Väcka, said: “The amount raised will enable us this year to reach 3,000 points of sale, address international expansion and grow organically”.

In January, Väcka launched the “world’s first” plant-based cheeses made from olive oil and fermented melon seed milk, Mözza and Pumpkin Chxddar.

Sanz commented: “We researched various seeds and the melon seeds stood out for their nutritional value and their properties in terms of aroma and taste. In addition, we have added ingredients of high nutritional value, such as oats, beans and calcium supplements, to the new versions.”

Melon seeds, which replace fermented almond milk, contain a high dose of linoleic acid, a macronutrient that is said to impact neuronal functioning, strengthen the immune system and reduce cholesterol. Meanwhile, substituting coconut oil for extra virgin olive oil means the products are almost free from saturated fats.

These changes impact the taste of the products but also the production process, which is more sustainable as it “reduces 99.1% of water consumption, 98.7% of land use and 91.8% of CO2 emissions”.

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