BeneMeat is a biotechnology company providing end-to-end technology for scalable cultivated meat manufacturing
We’re not just developing cultivated meat. We’re engineering the systems that make it viable at scale.
Our mission is to equip pet food and food manufacturers and interested colleagues from the conventional meat industry with cutting-edge end-to-end technology that’s cost-effective, scientifically validated and ready for real-world production.
Science meets scale. Transforming protein production with innovation, responsibility, and real-world impact, for the benefit of people, animals, and the planet.
We think like a manufacturer
We’re not just a biotech company experimenting in a lab. We’re a European powerhouse in cultivated meat technology, with a 100+ expert team that eats, sleeps, and breathes innovation. We’re not chasing hype. We’re building real infrastructure: cell lines, media, bioreactors, production processes, so manufacturers can launch real products.
As a subsidiary of BTL, a global leader in medical equipment manufacturing, we bring the same precision, rigor, and obsession with quality to cultivated meat manufacturing as we do to the healthcare industry. This isn’t just food manufacturing science. It’s industrial-grade
innovation.
BTL, An Unconventional CEO, and a Young Prodigy
The concept of cultivated meat is born during a friendly chat over a beer between Roman Kříž, a long-time businessman known for his unconventional thinking, and the owner of BTL. Cultivated meat “made sense” to Roman — sparking his interest and a quest to build a business that would help change the food system. True to his nature, Roman bypassed traditional academia and partnered with 20-year-old biology prodigy and International Olympiad medalist Jiří Janoušek to lay the foundations for BeneMeat.
The concept of cultivated meat is born during a friendly chat over a beer between Roman Kříž, a long-time businessman known for his unconventional thinking, and the owner of BTL. Cultivated meat “made sense” to Roman — sparking his interest and a quest to build a business that would help change the food system. True to his nature, Roman bypassed traditional academia and partnered with 20-year-old biology prodigy and International Olympiad medalist Jiří Janoušek to lay the foundations for BeneMeat.
Silicon Valley – But Build it in a Cornfield
Research kicks off in a modest, rented lab at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, the team grows to its first 10 scientists and relocates to the Innocrystal facility — an outpost isolated on the distant outskirts of Prague, surrounded by open fields.
Research kicks off in a modest, rented lab at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, the team grows to its first 10 scientists and relocates to the Innocrystal facility — an outpost isolated on the distant outskirts of Prague, surrounded by open fields.
Driven by Purpose and a Flashlight
Relocation to Technicpark in Hostivař allows for team expansion, adding bioengineers, material scientists, and analytical chemists. The team spent their nights using phone flashlights to navigate dark paths to the bus stop. This was the “Science First” mindset that defined our drive.
Relocation to Technicpark in Hostivař allows for team expansion, adding bioengineers, material scientists, and analytical chemists. The team spent their nights using phone flashlights to navigate dark paths to the bus stop. This was the “Science First” mindset that defined our drive.
Into the Cube – but still thinking out of the box
BeneMeat moves to the Cube building, the headquarters of its investor, BTL. This collaboration further secures our intellectual property, know-how and global patents. Scientific focus shifts toward larger lab-scale experimentation to validate the scalability of the production process.
BeneMeat moves to the Cube building, the headquarters of its investor, BTL. This collaboration further secures our intellectual property, know-how and global patents. Scientific focus shifts toward larger lab-scale experimentation to validate the scalability of the production process.
The World’s First
In November 2023, BeneMeat made history by becoming the world’s first registered producer of cultivated cells as a feed ingredient for pet food in the European Union. With our custom-engineered cell lines and infrastructure approaching industrial maturity, we’ve emerged as a global category pioneer.
In November 2023, BeneMeat made history by becoming the world’s first registered producer of cultivated cells as a feed ingredient for pet food in the European Union. With our custom-engineered cell lines and infrastructure approaching industrial maturity, we’ve emerged as a global category pioneer.
Award-Winning Innovation
BeneMeat receives the prestigious Industry award in the Česká Hlava project for outstanding innovation. The strategic decision is made to build the “Minifactory” — a first state-of-the-art large scale production facility in Prague.
BeneMeat receives the prestigious Industry award in the Česká Hlava project for outstanding innovation. The strategic decision is made to build the “Minifactory” — a first state-of-the-art large scale production facility in Prague.
The Moment of Truth and Happy Tail Wags throughout the EU
The team expands to nearly 150 employees as construction of the Minifactory begins in earnest. While the industry only talked about the future, we launched Try & Share, the first pan-European program allowing pet owners to test dog treats made with cultivated meat in real life.
The team expands to nearly 150 employees as construction of the Minifactory begins in earnest. While the industry only talked about the future, we launched Try & Share, the first pan-European program allowing pet owners to test dog treats made with cultivated meat in real life.
Getting to Scale — Minifactory
In February, the Minifactory successfully passed its first key construction and regulatory inspections. The initiation of test production marks BeneMeat’s transition from a high-tech start-up to an industrial biotechnology leader.
In February, the Minifactory successfully passed its first key construction and regulatory inspections. The initiation of test production marks BeneMeat’s transition from a high-tech start-up to an industrial biotechnology leader.
Built for Scale, Not for Show
Innovation
If it doesn’t scale, it doesn’t matter. We develop solutions that manufacturers can actually use.
Integrity
Science without credibility is just marketing. We believe in uncompromising safety and data-backed proof.
Partnership
We don’t do “thought leadership.” We collaborate with people serious about production to move this industry forward.
Sustainability
Less waste, fewer emissions, better use of land. Because the planet deserves better food systems.
Meet the Brains Behind the Meat
We’re scientists, engineers, and business builders. We design for impact, obsess over safety, and get a bit too excited about bioreactor schematics. Meet the team turning cultivated meat into a reality:
Our Founder
Roman Kříž
CEO & Founder
Roman leads BeneMeat with a bold vision for the future of cultivated protein. With a background in law and entrepreneurship, he founded BeneMeat to bring scientific rigor and scalable solutions to the food tech landscape. His leadership drives the company’s mission to make cultivated meat a viable option for manufacturers worldwide.
Roman doesn’t do it alone. The success of our company hinges on the true heart of the company: over 100 experts across cell biology, engineering, food science, regulatory affairs, business and marketing.
Backed by BTL. Powered by caffeine.
Want to know more? Ask them about scaling cultivated meat, or just buy them a coffee. They probably need one.
The Proof? It’s in the Protein
We don’t just talk sustainability. We measure it. Our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, conducted with Czech Technical University in Prague and peer-reviewed by the University of Nottingham, reveals the hard numbers.
How sustainable is cultivated meat?
According to our peer-reviewed LCA:
Land Use
Producing 1 kg of cultivated meat currently requires just 3.1 m² of land, less than any conventional meat. Our goal? 2.0 m² per kg.
Emissions
Right now, 1 kg of our meat emits 5.28 kg of CO₂ eq.. Soon, that will drop to 3.29 kg CO₂ eq.. Compare that to beef: 20–100 kg CO₂ eq. per kg. Yikes.
Translation: Cultivated meat isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a real, scalable solution that beats conventional meat on sustainability without sacrificing performance.
We Don’t Do “Maybe Someday.” We do “Let’s Build It”
If you’re a manufacturer or a conventional meat industry colleague serious about cultivated meat that actually works at scale, let’s talk. We’ll bring the tech, the systems, the regulatory playbook. And the coffee.
Let’s Build the Future Together
Serious about scaling
cultivated meat? So are we.
