When Mihir Pershad founded Umami Bioworks, he moved from the U.S. to Singapore to be closer to where 70% of the global seafood industry operates. But his ambition was always global—and centered on transforming how seafood is produced. Now, with support from StartLife, Umami Bioworks is scaling its cultivated seafood platform into Europe, starting with a strategic move to Wageningen, the continent’s agrifood innovation hub.

It was a bold leap, but one that laid the foundation for what would become a pioneering platform in marine cell culture.

Umami Bioworks is developing a “blue bioplatform”, an AI-driven system designed to enable sustainable innovation across the marine products sector. Powered by ALKEMYST™, its machine learning toolkit, the platform optimizes seafood production across feed, aquaculture, and cultivated solutions, reducing development time and costs. Among its key applications is cultivated seafood, where cell cultivation offers premium alternatives free from mercury, antibiotics, and ocean pollutants. This approach provides a sustainable solution to overfishing, protects endangered species, and preserves authentic seafood flavors.

They act as “Intel Inside” of the seafood world: not making consumer products themselves, but powering large food companies with their tech.

Five years in, the startup is scaling up manufacturing with partners in Asia and Europe, including their CellForge I factory in Malaysia. Mihir says: “We want to help traditional players bring sustainable products to market faster. Instead of building it all ourselves, we co-develop and scale with customers.”

Why StartLife Became Their European Launchpad

After establishing roots in Singapore, Umami looked to expand. The Netherlands, because of its deep agrifood ecosystem and strong R&D presence, made perfect sense. That’s when StartLife came into the picture.

“StartLife helped us navigate the Dutch ecosystem and connected us with key food companies: one of which has now converted into a partner,” Mihir says. “We now know how to launch production here when the time comes. That saves months of discovery down the line.”

Joining StartLife Accelerate in 2022 also gave Umami a clearer view of what it takes to engage with the European market and where their platform could best add value.

Locating R&D in Wageningen is More Than Just a Move

With a pilot plant underway in Malaysia, Mihir is already preparing the next leap: setting up a team in Wageningen. Why? Mihir says: “To develop products for European consumers, you need to be in Europe. Product design, consumer preferences, these can’t be translated from Southeast Asia.”

Relocating it’s R&D to Wageningen, the heart of Food Valley, isn’t just about geography though, Mihir explains. It’s a strategic decision to embed Umami Bioworks within Europe’s leading agrifood innovation ecosystem.

“Wageningen offers access to world-class research at Wageningen University & Research, major food multinationals, and a dynamic startup community,” Mihir explains. “It’s not just an entry point to Europe; it’s the center of agrifood innovation. Being based here allows us to develop, test, and scale sustainable seafood solutions tailored to Western markets.”

The move also complements Umami’s base in Singapore. “Asia gives us proximity to seafood production and early adopter markets. Europe provides regulatory alignment, product development expertise, and market validation. Together, they position us for truly global impact.”

What Can We Expect From Umami Bioworks in the Future?

In 2025, Umami expects to launch at least one product, maybe even two, proving their tech is not just functional, but profitable. “We’ve always said this has to be a real business, not just exciting science,” Mihir shares. “If we can deliver on unit economics, this changes everything.”

From bluefin tuna to bio-protective ingredients for cosmetics, Umami’s cell-based tech shows impressive range. But Mihir is the first to admit: it’s been a marathon, not a sprint. “Five years in, we’re just getting started. The next decade is about scale and impact.”

Mihir’s Valuable Advice For Founders

Asked what advice he’d give other founders, Mihir doesn’t hesitate: “Talk to customers earlier than you think. Even if you’re not ready to sell, you’re always ready to learn.”

StartLife, he adds, is a perfect place to start doing exactly that.

Are you an agrifoodtech startup looking to scale your innovations? Join one of StartLife’s Startup Programs to accelerate your journey.

And if you want to learn more about Umami Bioworks, read an earlier article about the founder story of Umami Bioworks.