SCiFi Foods: Real Beef, Reinvented

The case “SCiFi Foods: Real Beef, Reinvented” explores the journey of SCiFi Foods, a startup aiming to revolutionize the meat industry by developing lab-grown beef. Founded by serial entrepreneur Josh March and biotech expert Kasia Gora, SCiFi Foods sought to create affordable beef cells, combining innovation with a mission to reduce environmental impact and improve animal welfare. The case follows their early successes in securing funding, developing prototypes, and growing their team, as well as the challenges posed by a changing financial landscape and regulatory hurdles. It also examines the strategic decisions the founders faced, including scaling production, navigating a difficult venture capital market, and managing organizational culture during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case encourages students to consider the principles of building and sustaining an impact-driven business, balancing risk with opportunity, and maintaining transparency with stakeholders during difficult times.