The Live Green Co. aimed to create a healthier and more sustainable plant-based ice cream. Founders Priyanka Srinivas and Sasikanth Chemalamudi examined the ingredient labels of existing plant-based ice creams on the market. They utilized Charaka, an algorithm they developed to replace animal-derived, synthetic, processed, and unhealthy ingredients with more natural alternatives. Following Charaka’s recommendations, which included ingredients like bananas, avocados, and flaxseed, they crafted their own ice cream. Srinivas described Live Green’s ice cream as having a taste and texture akin to premium dairy ice cream, but with less than 3% added sugars, approximately 20 grams of protein, and 7% fiber per pint. Currently, it is available in various grocery stores across Chile, where the company is based.
However, Live Green’s ambition extends beyond just selling ice cream; they also offer plant-based burgers, pancake mixes, and drink mixes in Chile. Their primary goal is to market their technology, specifically the Charaka algorithm, to assist other companies in enhancing their products’ ingredient lists, nutritional profiles, and sustainability. “We view the CPG arm basically to validate the outcome of Charaka and to demonstrate the commercial viability of the product,” Srinivas stated, who serves as the company CEO.
Live Green’s mission is to help larger consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies improve their ingredients using this algorithm. Chemalamudi, the chief operating officer, emphasized that this approach is the most effective way to enact change in a greater number of products globally. To persuade manufacturers of the algorithm’s efficacy in improving ice cream, having a tangible product to taste is beneficial.
The company’s products have not only drawn the interest of consumers and manufacturers but also attracted investors. In April, Sigma Alimentos, a multinational food company based in Mexico, took a minority stake in Live Green. The company participated in Sigma’s inaugural accelerator program, during which they tested the Charaka algorithm on one of Sigma’s products, yielding positive results. According to Bloomberg, through this minority investment, Sigma aims to introduce Live Green’s products into its 18 international markets, hoping to attract more licensees for Charaka.
Live Green is striving to become a global player. The company has engaged in three other international accelerator programs and raised $1 million in seed funding from investors in Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and the United States. The Charaka algorithm combines science and chemistry to reformulate products, while also incorporating unique ancestral knowledge. The algorithm, named after Charaka — considered the father of Ayurvedic tradition in Indian culture — draws on the holistic understanding of natural healing through plants that has been documented for generations.
Chemalamudi explained that Charaka began the process of modernizing this knowledge, which had previously been passed down orally. The algorithm now includes information on over 25,000 different plants, leveraging both Ayurvedic tradition and insights from other ancestral wisdoms. This knowledge encompasses a broad array of plant species that may not be widely used in mass food production today, but which have proven benefits. Additionally, Charaka incorporates information from Chinese herbal medicine as well as Japanese and Korean traditions.
Beyond traditional knowledge, the Charaka algorithm delves into food science, analyzing the taste, functionality, chemical properties, and sensory data of various plants. Chemalamudi noted that the database currently includes over 15,000 plants and approximately half a million data points. “That is why we say we are blending ancestral wisdom with modern science,” he remarked.
The Charaka algorithm also employs machine learning, which enhances its database by integrating information about other plants that could serve as good substitutes for less desirable ingredients. While Live Green is not the only food company utilizing algorithms for formulations, Charaka stands apart. Other algorithms, like those used by NotCo and Eat Just, focus on replacing animal ingredients with plant-based alternatives, whereas Charaka aims to replace not only animal products but also other additives. “Charaka’s focus is not just on replacing the animal ingredients but also on replacing other additives. That is a major difference,” Chemalamudi explained.
Srinivas added that many consumers of plant-based foods identify as flexitarians, meaning they still purchase some animal-derived products. Instead of solely replicating these products, The Live Green Co. is committed to enhancing traditionally ultra-processed foods. The objective is to make these items healthier, tastier, and more sustainable while ensuring clean labels. “Their reason for shifting to a plant-based diet is how healthy it is and what benefits it provides,” Srinivas said. “This is the solution for flexitarian consumers — clean label functional ingredients and a comprehensive reformulation.”
As Charaka demonstrates success in tests and through the CPG offerings of The Live Green Co., the algorithm is poised for increased market exposure shortly. The company is in advanced discussions with a Mexican producer for launching reformulated ice cream labeled “Powered by Charaka.” Chemalamudi added that this agreement, along with others in development, is being facilitated through Live Green’s partnership with Sigma, although specific details remain undisclosed.
The company’s achievements in accelerators and industry competitions, along with funding, have generated considerable interest. Srinivas has engaged in “very, very interesting conversations” with major global ingredient and CPG companies. Live Green is open to collaboration, with major players viewing it as a new and non-disruptive solution to reformulation challenges. The company intends to announce additional partnerships and funding, while expanding into new markets and increasing its R&D and technology teams.
Meanwhile, The Live Green Co. will continue its mission of using Charaka to develop healthier substitutes for popular product lines. Chemalamudi highlighted that the company has identified around 30 key product lines, ranging from snacks to dairy alternatives, that are consumed extensively worldwide and could benefit from plant-based, clean-label health upgrades. The goal is to enhance these products and see how consumers respond. “The idea is called the 30 product line,” he explained. “Use Charaka to make them tastier, healthier, and more sustainable.”
Additionally, the company is exploring products like calcium citrate gummies that are sugar-free, aiming to cater to health-conscious consumers looking for better options in their dietary choices.