Lasso: The New Name Redefining the Food-Tech Frontier
In a world hungry for sustainability, taste, and texture, a new name has begun to resonate across the global food-tech landscape — Lasso. Formerly known as Tender Food, this Boston-based startup has emerged as one of the most exciting innovators in the plant-based revolution. Backed by a fresh $6.5 million funding round, Lasso is poised to transform how the world experiences plant-based protein, blending advanced science with culinary artistry.
At the heart of its success emerges a breakthrough technology: Lasso SpinTech. A fiber-spinning process inspired by nature and perfected through science. This pioneering technique doesn’t just mimic meat; it reimagines texture itself, creating fibrous, juicy, and satisfying plant-based foods. In particular, foods that look, cook, and taste closer to the real thing than ever before.
The Science Behind Lasso SpinTech
Lasso’s proprietary SpinTech was developed at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute. Notably, by a spectacular team of visionary scientists including Kit Parker, Luke MacQueen, Christophe Chantre, and Grant Gonzalez. The process borrows from textile manufacturing principles. For instance, imagine the fine art of spinning fibers, but instead of fabric, you get food!
SpinTech weaves plant proteins and fibers together to create intricate, natural muscle-like structures. This delivers a remarkably authentic texture while maintaining clean-label simplicity, minimal additives, lower heat processing, and superior nutrition retention.
Unlike traditional extrusion methods, which often overprocess ingredients, SpinTech offers a gentler, more sustainable alternative. Significantly, one that honors both the planet and the palate.
In the words of Lasso’s founders, “We’re not just building better plant-based foods — we’re building better ways to make food.”
A Vision Expands!
The rebranding from Tender Food to Lasso marks more than a name change. To put it differently, it’s a declaration of ambition. The latest funding round was led by Rhapsody Venture Partners and joined by Safar Partners and Claridge Venture Partners. Therefore, this revolutionary company is expanding beyond alternative meat into a range of new food categories, from snacks to pet food, and even ingredient licensing for other producers.
The company’s strategy is both bold and elegant — Make SpinTech the gold standard for structured plant-based foods. Furthermore, offering partners around the world a scalable, energy-efficient technology that makes sustainability profitable. By scaling from lab prototype to commercial production, Lasso is proving that precision food engineering can be both viable and visionary.
Why Lasso Matters?
In a global market increasingly defined by demand for cleaner, greener, and more ethical protein, Lasso represents a pivotal leap forward. Consumers are no longer content with simply “meat-free.” They want quality, authenticity, and trust. Moreover, food that satisfies not only the appetite but also the conscience.
Lasso’s technology directly addresses these expectations. It bridges the gap between taste and sustainability, between nutrition and innovation. By delivering premium-quality texture and taste with minimal processing. Thus, it could redefine the next generation of plant-based dining, moving the category beyond novelty into everyday nutrition.
The company’s approach also reflects a deeper trend in modern food innovation: the fusion of science, sustainability, and sensory delight. It’s not just about replacing meat. Specifically, it’s about enhancing the human experience of food itself.
The Legacy Begins
As the plant-based market matures, it will be the innovators, not imitators, who define its potential future. Lasso stands at the forefront of that movement. Indeed, elegantly weaving together technology, sustainability, and flavor into something truly extraordinary.
From its Harvard-born SpinTech to its expanding global ambitions, Lasso is more than a startup. It symbolizes what food can become when innovation is guided by integrity. In every spun strand of plant protein lies a promise — that the future of food will be cleaner, kinder, and crafted with care.
Lasso isn’t just making plant-based food. It’s spinning the fabric of tomorrow’s cuisine. One fiber at a time!
Read about the future of culinary innovation at The World Times.
