Cow-Free Dairy Startup Those Vegan Cowboys Raises €6.25M Ahead Of Crowdfunding Launch

The company plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign in the coming months.

The round was led by Pieter Geelen, co-founder of TomTom, and included Westland Kaas, the Dutch cheese producer behind Old Amsterdam, and Wouter Veenboer, co-founder of ProductHero. The funding will support the startup for the next two years as it moves closer to regulatory approval in the U.S. and prepares for commercial launch.

CEO Hille van der Kaa emphasises the significance of the funding: “This is where sustainability, technology and industry come together. Our partners recognise that animal-free casein is no longer a distant vision, but ready for commercial application. This investment allows us to move from development to market entry.”

Funding continues to flow into precision fermentation and related FoodTech sectors providing context for Those Vegan Cowboys’ €6.25 million first round.

Read Also - Solo GP Kevin Costa Closes $20m Fund For AI, Robotics And Infrastructure Investments

Recent examples include Porto-based PFx Biotech, which raised €2.5 million to develop allergy-free human milk proteins, and Copenhagen’s SUMM Ingredients, which secured €1.7 million to scale its fermented protein for food manufacturers. At a later stage Dutch startup Revyve closed a €24 million Series B to expand yeast-based proteins that replace eggs and additives in mainstream foods.

Other notable rounds include Fungu’it (€4 million) for fungi-based natural flavorings and EvodiaBio (€6 million) to scale fermentation-driven flavors for industrial use.

Together, these 2025 deals represent roughly €38 million invested in fermentation-led and related FoodTech innovation, not including Those Vegan Cowboys’ funding. The trend shows sustained investor interest across European alternative proteins, functional ingredients and fermentation-enabled food technologies.

Frank Fischer, CFO of Westland Kaas adds: “As Westland Kaas, we have always combined tradition with technology. We continue to invest in innovation to reinvent cheese for future generations. Our investment in Those Vegan Cowboys reflects our commitment to open innovation and next-generation food technologies.”

Those Vegan Cowboys was founded in 2020 by former The Vegetarian Butcher founders Jaap Korteweg and Niko Koffeman. The company produces casein the main protein in dairy using microbes instead of cows, creating cheese that is identical to traditional dairy but completely animal-free.

The startup is working with ten industrial partners across Europe to develop products ranging from meltable mozzarella alternatives to semi-hard cheeses. It previously partnered with investor Westland Kaas to launch the plant-based cheese brand WildWestLand, reflecting its playful cowboy-themed branding and a step toward mainstream recognition.

The company is planning a crowdfunding campaign, likely the first in the precision fermentation dairy space. The campaign will raise funds while also building brand awareness and engaging consumers.

In 2026 Those Vegan Cowboys will offer tastings of their cheese prototypes in the Netherlands, giving early supporters a first look and taste of their products.

Investor Wouter Veenboer also highlighted the growing urgency for sustainable alternatives: “This has the potential to be a major breakthrough. As livestock farming continues to industrialise the need to relieve the dependency on animals becomes more urgent. Cheese is one of the products consumers miss most when they reduce dairy. I’m excited to help make this vision a reality.”

About Those Vegan Cowboys

Founded in 2020, Those Vegan Cowboys create real milk proteins and cheese without using cows. Using innovative fermentation technology nicknamed the “Iron Lady” the company produces dairy-identical products that are completely animal-free, combining sustainability with authentic taste for a new generation of plant-based and fermentation-driven foods.