# Jasmin Hume

> Jasmin Hume is the founder and CEO of Shiru, an Alameda biotechnology company that combines machine learning, bioinformatics and laboratory validation to identify useful natural proteins for food, personal care, agriculture and materials. A protein engineer by training and a former food chemistry director at JUST, she has turned an academic fascination with biomaterials into a commercial ingredient platform, while also investing in women-led climate and deep-tech startups through XFactor Ventures.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Shiru; Partner at XFactor Ventures
- **Organizations:** Shiru, XFactor Ventures, JUST, Lux Capital, New York University, Chalmers University of Technology, McGill University, STMicroelectronics, BenchPals, Y Combinator
- **Education:** PhD in Materials Chemistry / protein engineering, New York University, MSc, Chalmers University of Technology, BEng, McGill University
- **Known for:** Founded Shiru in 2019 and led it through a $16 million Series B in 2024., Led the launch of ProteinDiscovery.ai, named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2024., Brought Shiru's first two AI-discovered ingredients, OleoPro and uPro, into commercial production in 2025.

## Career timeline

- **2008-2010** — Worked as a biomaterials engineer at STMicroelectronics in Agrate Brianza, Italy.
- **2010-2015** — Pursued a doctorate at NYU, specializing in protein engineering and biomaterials.
- **2011-2012** — Served as an NSF-supported graduate STEM fellow and coached a middle-school robotics team in Brooklyn.
- **2013** — Launched BenchPals, an app concept for digitizing laboratory and data management.
- **2014** — Worked as a summer associate at Lux Capital.
- **2015-2018** — Worked at Hampton Creek, later JUST, eventually serving as Director of Food Chemistry.
- **2019** — Founded Shiru and joined Y Combinator's 2019 cohort.
- **2023** — Wrote as an XFactor Ventures partner about investments in infrastructure for the bioeconomy.
- **2024** — Launched ProteinDiscovery.ai, which TIME named one of its Best Inventions of 2024; Shiru raised a $16 million Series B.
- **2025** — Shiru began commercial production of its first two AI-discovered ingredients, OleoPro and uPro.
- **2026** — Named to Inc.'s Female Founders 500 list.

## Achievements

- Founded Shiru in 2019 and led it through a $16 million Series B in 2024.
- Led the launch of ProteinDiscovery.ai, named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2024.
- Brought Shiru's first two AI-discovered ingredients, OleoPro and uPro, into commercial production in 2025.
- Named to Inc.'s 2026 Female Founders 500 list.
- Selected as a 2021 Rising Star & Disruptor honoree by Women Building the Future, Vegan Women Summit and Impossible Foods.
- Received NYU's 2021 Elizabeth Elting Venture Award through Shiru.
- Co-authored peer-reviewed research on engineered protein-gold nanoparticle nanocomposites.
- Chosen as New York City's finalist in Time Warner Cable's 2011 Super Connector Search for STEM outreach.

## Latest updates

- **2025-06** — Published a World Economic Forum essay arguing that broader access to AI discovery tools can accelerate scientific innovation.
- **2025-04** — Announced commercial production of Shiru's OleoPro and uPro ingredients.
- **2024-11** — Shiru closed a $16 million Series B led by S2G Ventures.
- **2024-10** — ProteinDiscovery.ai was named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2024.

## Links

- Website: https://www.shiru.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminhume
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRXy7aWxLm0

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/jasmin-hume
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25