# TurtleTree

> TurtleTree is a biotech and food-tech company that makes lactoferrin - one of the rarest and most valuable proteins in cow's milk - without the cow. Using precision fermentation, its flagship ingredient LF+ recreates the bioactive milk protein at scale for use in immunity, gut health, sports nutrition and infant nutrition products. In 2025 TurtleTree became the first company in the world to win an FDA 'No Questions' GRAS letter for precision-fermented lactoferrin, clearing it to commercialize in the U.S.

- **Founded:** 2019
- **Headquarters:** Sacramento, California, United States (with roots in Singapore)
- **Founders:** Fengru Lin (Co-Founder & CEO), Max Rye (Co-Founder (former Chief Strategist))
- **Team size:** ~17 (significantly reduced from prior peak after 2024 restructuring)
- **Products:** LF+, Functional nutrition ingredient supply (B2B)
- **Notable:** First company in the world to receive an FDA 'No Questions' GRAS letter for precision-fermented lactoferrin (May 2025)., First-ever self-affirmed GRAS status for precision-fermentation-derived lactoferrin (LF+)., Debuted the world's first cultivated bovine lactoferrin (2022) and later the first animal-free lactoferrin via precision fermentation.

## Products & services

- **LF+** — The world's first lactoferrin produced at industrial scale through microbial precision fermentation. A bioactive milk protein supporting immunity, iron regulation, gut/digestive health, endurance and muscle strength - identical in function to lactoferrin extracted from cow's milk, but made without cows.
- **Functional nutrition ingredient supply (B2B)** — Supplies LF+ as an ingredient to consumer brands across sports nutrition, immune-support beverages, functional coffee and adult/infant nutrition.

## Achievements

- First company in the world to receive an FDA 'No Questions' GRAS letter for precision-fermented lactoferrin (May 2025).
- First-ever self-affirmed GRAS status for precision-fermentation-derived lactoferrin (LF+).
- Debuted the world's first cultivated bovine lactoferrin (2022) and later the first animal-free lactoferrin via precision fermentation.
- Named to Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2024.
- Raised roughly $43M in total funding.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Secured FDA 'No Questions' GRAS letter for LF+ - a world first for precision-fermented lactoferrin.
- **2025** — Formal partnership with MAD Foods to launch an LF+ coffee line mid-2025.
- **2024-12** — Reported to be raising ~$15M pre-Series B amid funding challenges; CEO Fengru Lin describes the future as 'exciting.'
- **2024** — Restructured and reduced headcount; co-founder Max Rye and several executives departed.
- **2023** — Obtained world's first self-GRAS for animal-free lactoferrin, clearing LF+ to commercialize in the U.S.

## Links

- Website: https://www.turtletree.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/turtletree
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/turtletree_
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtletreeofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurtleTreeOfficial/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/turtletree
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-08