By Riley Kaminer
It all started with a simple but ambitious question: What if orange juice could be just as sweet and fresh, but without the sugar? For years, the beverage industry has struggled to find a solution, but attempts to fully remove sugar from natural juices have fallen short.
Enter MinusSugar, a biotech startup founded by a team of Brazilians in Miami that’s transforming how we think about sweetened drinks. The team has developed a proprietary process to remove all types of sugar from fruit juices – preserving flavor, freshness, and nutrition in the process.
Founded in 2022, MinusSugar just announced that it has secured 15.1 million Brazilian reals in funding (approximately $2.5 million USD) in a round led by BR Angels.
The idea for MinusSugar emerged from the founders’ shared passion for improving public health. Co-founder Cátia Coelho, who holds a Master of Science in Mental Health from Nova Southeastern University and has a family history of Type 2 diabetes, highlighted the company’s vision: “We must act preventively when it comes to public health,” she told Startupi.
“The solution isn’t more medication but healthier food, combined with physical exercise and mental well-being,” Coelho continued. “We use cutting-edge technology to remove unwanted sugar from a naturally nutritious and delicious drink that is part of people’s daily lives.”
The startup plans to use the newly raised capital exclusively for research and development. Chief Science Officer Gleidson Teixeira, who holds a PhD in Genetics, explained: “The research in genetics and bioprocesses continues – we’re always in beta. But the pilot plant we’re developing will be the focus of this next phase. There, we’ll scale our technology, and our clients will be able to see the process in equipment similar to what they’ll have in their factories.”
While the company is based in South Florida, MinusSugar has chosen Brazil, the world’s largest producer of orange juice, as its first market. It has already partnered with industry leaders like Citrosuco, the world’s largest orange juice exporter, and Natural One, a premium juice brand.
Natural One’s CEO, Rafael Ivanisk Oliveira, praised MinusSugar’s early achievements: “MinusSugar is the first company to bring a solution for sugar reduction using a 100% natural process, combined with great potential to create a product for consumers with taste and freshness in line with the original versions.”
MinusSugar’s business model involves licensing its technology to beverage companies, enabling them to align their products with global health trends. By offering options with varying levels of sugar, the company is tapping into diverse consumer preferences while promoting healthier lifestyles.
Photo at top of post: MinusSugar co-founders, left to right, Gleidson Teixeira (CSO), Gabriel Galembeck (COO), Catia Coelho (CPCO), Rodolfo Coelho (CEO), and Osmar Netto (CTO).
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