Plantible Wins Grand Prize in Startup Pitch Competition at IFT FIRST
July 23, 2025 | 3 min to read
CHICAGO – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, is proud to announce that Plantible was selected as the winner of The Pitch at IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, IFT’s annual food research, science, and technology event, which was held July 13-16 in Chicago. The rapid-pitch competition, showcasing product innovations in the early stages, featured six startups from the popular Startup Pavilion competing for the grand prize in the finale.
A biology company with a supply chain that harnesses the power of plants to produce novel foods, Plantible was recognized for Rubi Protein™, its functional and nutritional plant-based protein ingredient. Rubi enables food manufacturers to replace eggs, dairy ingredients, and synthetic emulsifiers with a single clean ingredient. Highly soluble, it foams, emulsifies, and binds, often outperforming whole eggs, whey, skim‑milk powder, and methylcellulose in commercial food applications. With a complete amino‑acid profile and a PDCAAS of 1, Rubi delivers high quality nutrition while remaining free of every major allergen. And because it’s grown with a fraction of the water, land, and carbon footprint of animal proteins, Rubi helps brands sharpen labels, boost nutrition, and hit sustainability targets in one move.
Besides sharing the benefits of Rubi Protein at IFT FIRST, Plantible also provided a preview of upcoming ingredient Lemna Leaf Greens: a nutrient-dense green powder containing protein, fiber, and essential micronutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C, and E. Its mild taste and versatile functionality make it ideal for RTM beverages, nutrition bars, supplements, and culinary applications.
As part of its grand prize recognition, Plantible received $10,000 courtesy of The Pitch competition sponsor, Seeding The Future Foundation.
“Winning IFT FIRST’s The Pitch competition underscores our belief that the food system doesn’t need an alternative – it needs an upgrade,” said Tony Martens, Plantible Co-Founder and CEO. “We’re growing novel plants and transforming them into next-generation ingredients that deliver better functionality, nutrition, and resilience than today’s staples. We are starting with our amazing Rubi Protein. This recognition is a powerful signal that the future of food will be built on innovation at the supply chain level, because when you start with better building tools, you unlock better food.”
The runners-up, each earning $2,500, were Crush Dynamics, a producer of ingredients derived from naturally fermented pressed grapes from the winemaking processing, and RedLeaf Biologics, a manufacturer of a novel botanical extract that has demonstrated extremely potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Last year, Scentian Bio, a biotech company utilizing a synthesized insect olfactory receptor biosensor that can measure smell and taste, took home the grand prize.
“At IFT, we believe innovation is essential to building a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable food future,” said Christie Tarantino-Dean, CEO of IFT. “The Pitch is a great way to spotlight bold, science-driven solutions that have the potential to transform our food system. Congratulations to Plantible and all the finalists—and thank you to Seeding The Future Foundation for making this platform possible.”
To learn more about IFT, go to www.ift.org.
About Institute of Food Technologists
Since 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has served as the voice of the global food science community. IFT advocates for science, technology, and research to address the world’s greatest food challenges, guiding our community of more than 200,000. IFT convenes professionals from around the world – from producers and product developers to innovators and researchers across food, nutrition, and public health – with a shared mission to help create a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. IFT provides its growing community spanning academia, industry, and government with the resources, connections, and opportunities necessary to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving food system as IFT helps feed the minds that feed the world. For more information, please visit ift.org.