Founder Profile: Mara Bio
Steve Boggs, Maya Tangestani, Mark Balchin - New Zealand
What Does Your Company Do?
“Mara Bio is a biotech company developing an innovative, proprietary fermentation platform that transforms dairy industry by-products into proteins, fibre, minerals, and functional bioactive ingredients for the world’s leading food companies.
Our process reduces waste, cuts emissions, and generates new revenue streams for dairy producers.
By co-locating and integrating with existing facilities, we enable partners to decarbonise and lead in climate action. We’re driving the future of sustainable food innovation through circular economy solutions.”
What Is Your Origin Story?
“Some years ago we developed an active nutrition brand, with our first products using whey protein as a core ingredient.
We explored alternatives that were more sustainable, but some, such as plant-based proteins weren’t soluble and had taste and texture issues.
With research we discovered mycelium, the root structures of mushrooms, and by using a circular approach we could utilise food industry sidestreams as a food source for these microorganisms and to convert them into high-value ingredients.”
What Are You Celebrating Now?
“Having our new lab installed here at Foodeast Haumako, the fourth lab for Mara Bio.
This will enable us to continue to optimise our process and explore new opportunities in biotechnology.
At the same time we’re scaling our technology in our partners facilities, which is our core focus for this year, and moving up the Technology Readiness Scale (TRS).
We’ve also been successful with a Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA) funding project and will have more news to come.”
What Is One Lesson You Wish You Learned Earlier?
“It’s a lesson we’ve always been aware of but continue to learn, and that’s to truly understand the value we offer to our customers, whether they be our corporate partners or the end consumers.
Like all startups, we have a runway and limited resources so it’s imperative that we are solving our customers problems and not just doing R&D for R&D’s sake.”
How Do You Keep Your Energy Up On Tough Days?
“Reminding ourselves that it’s a long road, and we have a big goal in mind in terms of the impact we want to have; in terms of the economic impact, as well as food security and the environment.
And we can’t do it on our own, so working with our partners, investors and others connected to the food network here in Aotearoa helps keep us energised and informed about the bigger job we’re trying to do.”
Learn More
Who: Q&A with Steve Boggs, Maya Tangestani and Mark Balchin of Mara Bio
HQ: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Web: mara-bio.co.nz
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