Muu, an animal-free dairy start-up based in Bangkok, Thailand, has secured strategic investment from A2D Ventures, Leave a Nest Japan and several other firms.

The company uses precision fermentation to produce bioidentical milk proteins that replicate the taste and nutritional value of cow’s milk, without animal involvement. Muu’s technology is built on a four-stage process: strain development, fermentation, purification and formulation.

Its proteins are free from lactose, cholesterol, hormones and antibiotics. According to the start-up, its process uses 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, land and water compared to conventional dairy.

The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lotte Fine Chemical, aiming to unlock future distribution channels and deep market insights. It has received sample requests from coffee chains and F&B producers across Thailand, Singapore and Japan, planning to scale across Asia and expand globally.

In addition to A2D Ventures and Leave a Nest, it has also been supported by investment firms Glocalink Singapore, Brinc, and an unnamed Japanese food conglomerate.

Ankit Upadhyay, general partner at A2D Ventures, said: “Muu is uniquely positioned at the intersection of food, biotech and climate impact”. He added that the company’s vision of animal-free dairy for Asia is “bold, timely and deeply needed, given 80% of Asians are lactose intolerant”.