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STARTUP·2 min read·Oct 10, 2025

Bill Gates-Backed Startup Raises $33M to Reinvent Butter Without Cows — And They’re on a Mission to Save the Planet

How a 38-Year-Old CEO is Changing the Future of Food Kathleen Alexander, co-founder and CEO of Savor, isn’t just launching another food brand — she’s pioneering a revolution. At just 38, she’s steering a startup backed by Bill Gates that’s reinventing cooking fats like butter, palm oil, and cocoa —

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Close-up view of multiple US hundred dollar bills showcasing Benjamin Franklin. · Plate 01 · Photographed for The Entrepreneur Story

How a 38-Year-Old CEO is Changing the Future of Food

Kathleen Alexander, co-founder and CEO of Savor, isn’t just launching another food brand — she’s pioneering a revolution. At just 38, she’s steering a startup backed by Bill Gates that’s reinventing cooking fats like butter, palm oil, and cocoa — all without cows or plants.


The Sweet Moment: First Chocolate Bonbons Fly Off the Shelves

At a San Francisco patisserie called One65, Kathleen watched proudly as her company’s chocolate bonbons sold out for the very first time. These treats are made in collaboration with One65 and showcase Savor’s breakthrough: creating delicious, plant-free, and animal-free products that taste like the real thing.


The Science Behind Savor’s Butter Reinvention

Founded in March 2022, Savor has cracked the code on making cooking fats from carbon in a lab. What makes their butter so revolutionary? It’s chemically almost identical to cow butter, unlike any vegan alternative currently available.

Co-founder Ian McKay explains this breakthrough could disrupt the entire cooking fats market by offering a sustainable, planet-friendly alternative.


Why This Matters: Saving the World One Butter Pat at a Time

Butter production is notoriously harmful to the environment, driving deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Savor’s innovative process promises to cut out these impacts entirely — offering the taste and texture we love, without the environmental cost.


Backed by Bill Gates and Fueled by Vision

With $33 million raised from investors like Bill Gates, Savor is poised to scale quickly. Their mission? To create the tastiest, most sustainable fats on the planet — and ultimately help save the world.


What’s Next for Savor?

The future looks bright as Savor aims to bring its products to more tables and kitchens worldwide. If successful, they could transform how we cook and eat — all while protecting the planet for generations to come.



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About Bill Gates-Backed Startup Raises $33M to Reinvent Butter Without Cows — And They’re on a Mission to Save the Planet — five of the most-asked, in the desk's own words.

  1. 01What is this story about?
    How a 38-Year-Old CEO is Changing the Future of Food Kathleen Alexander, co-founder and CEO of Savor, isn’t just launching another food brand — she’s pioneering a revolution. At just 38, she’s steering a startup backed by Bill Gates that’s reinventing cooking fats like butter, palm oil, and cocoa —
  2. 02Who wrote it?
    The Entrepreneur Story · Staff. 2 min read · Oct 10, 2025.
  3. 03Is this sponsored?
    If a piece is, the disclosure sits above the cover image and again in our public transparency report. This one carries no commercial disclosure.
  4. 04How do I get the rest?
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