Plant-Based Startup Wins Top Spot at UCLA Anderson Showcase 2025

Edited by The VEGPRENEUR Team

At a pivotal moment for the plant‑based and alternative‑protein sector, Thallus Foods has claimed first place at the prestigious UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator’s Showcase 2025 event.

This win not only underscores the strength of their innovation in the vegan food space, but also highlights new growth avenues for sustainable, whole‑food alternatives to animal protein.

Why This Matters

Hosted by Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at UCLA Anderson, the Showcase shines a spotlight on early‑stage ventures across sectors including cleantech, consumer packaged goods, healthcare and beyond. The 2025 edition featured ten live pitches from top founders drawn from the UCLA ecosystem. Among the participants, Thallus Foods, which cultivates the “chicken of the woods” mushroom as a high‑protein alternative to meat, stood out for its potential to disrupt animal agriculture’s status quo.

Thallus Foods: The proposition

Founded by Jane Lim, Thallus Foods is re‑imagining the protein plate through mycology:

They’ve developed a commercial indoor cultivation model for the mushroom species commonly known as “chicken of the woods” (genus Laetiporus), which is already known to have a texture and taste reminiscent of poultry.
Their vision: deliver a whole‑food, minimally processed, nutrient‑rich alternative to conventional meat — aligning strongly with the accelerating consumer preference shift in the plant‑based space.
Their business‑to‑business go‑to‑market strategy includes supplying meal‑kit companies, restaurants, and
distributors — positioning them in the intersection of foodservice and emerging alternative‑protein supply chains.

What the Win Signals for The Plant‑Based Industry

From a VEGPRENEUR perspective, Thallus’s success is telling for several reasons:

Whole‑food alternatives matter — The fact that a mushroom‑based venture took the top prize suggests that investors and innovation judges are giving serious weight to solutions that move beyond heavily processed analogues.
Protein category expansion — As the plant‑based industry matures, attention is shifting from soy/pea protein to more differentiated sources (fungi, fermentation, precision agriculture). Thallus fits directly into that evolution.
Food‑service traction counts — Their business model targeting foodservice and distribution partners reflects where much of the growth will come (rather than purely retail alone). That aligns with our accelerator work through the VEGPRENEUR Community and potential partnerships we track in the DTC + food‑service ecosystem.
Innovation credibility — Winning a recognized venture showcase provides a major credibility boost for partnerships, fundraising, and scaling operations. This is very relevant for emerging plant‑based brands within the broader CPG network we serve.

What Comes Next for Thallus and the Broader Sector

Given their win, Thallus is well‑positioned for the next phase:

Scaling their cultivation and production systems to meet commercial demand – a legacy challenge in the alternative‑protein space.
Solidifying partnerships with foodservice, distribution, and possibly retail – the path to mainstream adoption.
Leveraging the win to raise capital, expand the team, and accelerate go‑to‑market execution.

For VEGPRENEUR, this milestone invites a broader conversation: how many other mycology‑ or fungi‑based innovations are primed for breakout? How do we help plant‑based brands see the downstream opportunities beyond traditional retail? How can our accelerator arm position itself to support these high‑growth segments?

Final Thoughts

In a moment where sustainability, animal‑free nutrition, and consumer sophistication are converging, Thallus Foods’ victory at UCLA Anderson’s Showcase is more than a prize. It’s a signal: the plant‑based movement is evolving from analogues to alternatives — from “what looks like meat” to “what really is better”. For our community at VEGPRENEUR, this is the kind of story we champion: bold, category‑expanding, and aligned with a mission‑driven future. Congratulations to Jane Lim and the Thallus Foods team. We look forward to following their journey and exploring how this fresh cohort of alternative‑protein innovators will shape the next chapter of the plant‑based revolution.