Overview
Hermes Sanctorum is an engineer and PhD who also served as a Member of Parliament and senator in Belgium before founding Paleo. He co-founded the company in October 2020 alongside Andy de Jong. Paleo raised EUR 12 million in a Series A round in 2023.
The company focuses on myoglobin, a key protein responsible for the sensory experience of meat and fish, and produces it without GMOs using precision fermentation. As of recent updates, Paleo has refocused on R&D as the company navigates slower regulatory approvals and reduced investor appetite for high-risk biotech.
Career history
In the news
- Paleo turns 6 today! 🎂 Six years of building a company, and perhaps even more of building resilience. Entrepreneurship is an incredible journey, but definitely not for the faint-hearted. Looking back, here are six lessons I'd share with fellow founders: 1. Resilience is everything. Financials, management, Board reporting… you can learn all of that. But resilience is the real test. The highs can be extraordinary, the lows brutal. If that rollercoaster isn't for you, that's perfectly fine. But be honest with yourself. 2. Be driven
- Two developments on meat and alternatives that are worth watching: - Hybrid meat products can already be cheaper to manufacture than conventional meat products. However, these cost advantages are not necessarily reflected in retail prices, which are influenced by brand positioning and retailer margins. - Beef is getting considerably more expensive. Global prices increased approximately 20% between 2023 and 2025 (FAO), while US retail ground beef prices rose around 35% between 2023 and September 2026 (BLS). The opportunity is
- Protein is no longer just about nutrition. It's increasingly about longevity. An interesting insight from Bridge2Food North America, supported by recent US consumer data (analyzed by Mattson): 1) High-protein diets are now the number 1 dietary preference, ahead of low-carb, high-fiber and vitamin-rich diets. 2) Motivations for that are shifting towards strength, weight management and healthy ageing. Protein is increasingly about optimizing health, not just preventing deficiencies. 3) Protein literacy remains surprisingly low.
- The big breakthrough in plant-based foods may be taking longer than expected, but it’s happening. Attending Bridge2Food North America reinforces that position based on data. What makes this event particularly interesting is the broad representation of the food industry: flavour houses, retailers, ingredient suppliers, food manufacturers and more. This is not just a niche conversation. Climate change is already challenging our food systems, and feeding a growing population sustainably will require new solutions. Plant-based and
- Paleo has been nominated for 'The Ones to Watch: Top Climate Tech Builders'. It is a joint initiative of The Green Times and Climate Tech Connect and several partners. Obviously, we greatly appreciate the support for our mission to build more sustainable food systems.You can vote for us on via following link: https://lnkd.in/eJwXPYkM - Thank you!
- An interview with Anay Mridul from Green Queen on Paleo, myoglobin and what comes next for alternative proteins: https://lnkd.in/eyQDjkKY. An excerpt: “We therefore believe myoglobin can be a game-changer for the category and help manufacturers develop products capable of bringing consumers back.” And on the need to rethink how we approach the market: “The alternative protein market has changed significantly, and I don’t believe simply repeating the strategies of the past will be enough. We need to find more creative ways. We are
- It’s been a while since I posted here. We’ve been working below the radar on securing additional funding for Paleo — and I’m happy to share that we succeeded. Our priorities are clear: advance our regulatory submissions and deepen strategic collaborations with commercial partners. The alternative protein sector has been going through a difficult period for several years. Yet we remain convinced about Paleo’s future. Why? Because our product is strong. Very strong. Over the past two years, we have reduced production costs by a factor
Related profiles
This page shows public professional information only, each fact cited. Is this you? send a correction, or ask for removal within 24 hours, no questions asked.