Developing new food products traditionally takes a lot of time. Many companies rely on scattered research and uncoordinated taste tests, often leading to years of work before getting a new product to market. Recognizing this challenge, AKA Foods has created AKA Studio—a secure AI-driven platform that brings all a company’s research, sensory data, and insights together in one place.
This innovative platform can speed up product development from years to mere weeks, boosting both productivity and profits.
Recently, AKA Foods secured $17.2 million in seed funding, led by AI experts Alex and Michael Bronstein, allowing them to officially launch AKA Studio.
Founded in 2021 by CEO David Sack and Chief Scientist Professor Alex Bronstein, AKA Foods began with a simple goal: to perfect vegan pizza cheese. However, their experiments revealed a larger issue in the food industry—ineffective development processes. This spurred the founders to create a solution that combines food technology with intelligent systems to create healthier, sustainable food options with precision.
AKA Studio uses a sensory-AI framework that merges sensory data—like texture, aroma, and taste—from research labs with AI-guided formulation techniques. Sack emphasized the extensive untapped knowledge within the global food industry and how AKA Studio helps companies harness that effectively.
Unlike other generic AI models, AKA Studio uses a specialized “language for food” to connect with various internal and external data sources, producing actionable insights. Each client has a secure environment, ensuring that their data remains confidential and fully owned by them.
Additionally, AKA Studio addresses modern food industry needs like clean-label reformulation and lower sugar and fat content. While competitors like Bettani and Above Food focus on plant-based products, AKA Studio stands out as an AI-powered platform for comprehensive food innovation.
Looking ahead, AKA Foods aims to expand its services globally, and plans to branch out into other fields like fragrances, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, where sensory detail is also essential.
As the food industry evolves, leveraging technology like AKA Studio not only promises quicker product development but also aligns with a growing demand for healthier and more sustainable food choices.
For more on innovations in the food sector, you can check out reports from the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) [here](http://www.fao.org/).
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