MeliBio

MeliBio is an American food tech company that replaces the use of honeybees with microorganisms as a medium for honey production. The company was founded in 2020 by Darko Mandich and Aaron Schaller.

MeliBio is based in Oakland, California.

History
MeliBio was founded in 2020 by Darko Mandich and Aaron Schaller in Berkeley, California. The company uses plant science and precision fermentation to create a product molecularly identical to honey without the need for bees. According to the FDA, this product cannot be marketed as honey.

In March 2022, MeliBio raised $5.7 million in seed funding. The round was led by Astanor Ventures.

MeliBio was affected by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023, with up to 90% of the company's assets reportedly held at the bank.