Fundraising Fox

Mush Foods

Chicago, US · Founded 2017 · Delaware corporation · 7 known investors

Mush Foods produces 50CUT, a line of mushroom root (mycelium) and mushroom products designed to be mixed with ground meat or poultry to reduce emissions and add nutrition. The company grows mushrooms and their roots above ground using an indoor cultivation method aimed at high yields.

Also known as 50Cut · 50CUT

Founders & leadership

AT
Ashley ThompsonExecutive
JD
Joanna DuttaExecutive
GF
Guillermo FreileExecutive

Board

SM
Sam McBrideBoard director

Investors · 7

Also in the syndicate · 4

Arc Impact VenturesMilk & Honey VenturesThe Kitchen Hub (TKH)TKH

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$27.2M disclosed across 2 of 4 rounds · 2021–2024

$23MraisedSep 2022 · 5 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Brian KelleyDirector
  • Ashley ThompsonExecutive Officer, Director
  • Sam McBrideDirector
  • Guillermo FreileExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$23M
Amount sold
$23M
First sale
Aug 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
$4.2MraisedMay 2021 · 7 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Ashley ThompsonExecutive Officer, Director
  • Sam McBrideDirector
  • Joanna DuttaExecutive Officer
  • Guillermo FreileExecutive Officer
Offering amount
$5M
Amount sold
$4.2M
First sale
Apr 2021
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Company profile

researched Aug 2026

Mush Foods is a food-technology company that grows culinary-grade mushroom mycelium (mushroom root) and formulates it into 50CUT, a line of chef-crafted mushroom root and mushroom blends intended to be combined with ground beef, poultry or fish. The blends are positioned as a way to replace a portion of the animal protein in a recipe rather than to eliminate it, targeting consumers who are reducing rather than avoiding meat. Products are made from a mix of wild mushroom varieties formulated to match the moisture, binding, flavor, color and texture of beef, poultry and fish applications.

The company describes nutritional attributes including a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids, dietary fiber such as beta-glucan, potassium, iron and calcium, vitamin D, and lower saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium than meat alone; products are described as free of top allergens including dairy, gluten and soy, and as kosher- and halal-certified. Marketed culinary applications span burgers, meatballs, sausages, bolognese, tacos, chili, soups and sauces, meatloaf, dumplings and similar ground-meat dishes. On sustainability, the company cites a March 2024 life-cycle assessment by Boundless Impact Research & Analytics and states that a 50/50 blend of meat and 50CUT halves emissions relative to 100% meat, with claimed land and water reductions versus beef and soy.

Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.

Key figures

latest reported
Cooked yield increaseJan 202520%
Emissions reduction of 50/50 meat and 50CUT blend vs 100% meatMar 202450%
Grow cycles per yearJan 202524 cycles/year
Land use vs beefJan 202595.5% less land than beef
Land use vs soyJan 202592% less land than soy
Mushroom root grow timeJan 20248 days
Water use vs beefJan 202599% less water than beef
Water use vs soyJan 202590% less water than soy

Company-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.

Timeline · 4

launches, deals, and filings
Jan 2024
Named a Grow-NY Food and Agricultural Business Competition winner

source ↗

Jan 2024
US launch of 50Cut restaurant-ready mushroom root blends

Mush Foods announced the US launch of 50Cut, a line of chef-crafted mushroom root blends for ground beef, poultry and fish dishes, aimed at restaurants and foodservice purveyors. The US launch followed an earlier introduction for restaurants in Israel.

source ↗

Jan 2024
Included among first five investments of Lever VC's Fund II

Lever VC announced a $50 million first close of its agrifoodtech Fund II and named Mush Foods among the fund's first five investments; no investment amount was disclosed.

source ↗

Jan 2023
$6.2 million seed round led by Viola Ventures

Seed round led by Viola Ventures with participation from TKH, Siddhi Capital, Milk & Honey Ventures and ARC IMPACT Ventures.

$6.2M source ↗

Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Mush FoodsDelaware

In the news

Research sources · 6

primary sources listed

6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.

Frequently asked questions

What does Mush Foods do?
Mush Foods makes 50CUT, mushroom root (mycelium) blends that chefs mix into ground meat, poultry and fish dishes.
Who are Mush Foods's investors?
Mush Foods's investors include Lever VC, Viola Ventures, Siddhi Capital.
How much funding has Mush Foods raised?
Mush Foods has disclosed $27.2M raised across 2 of its 4 known rounds.
Where is Mush Foods headquartered?
Mush Foods is headquartered in Chicago, US.