From a small laboratory in Vietnam in 2019, Yeast Era was founded with the ambition to provide sustainable protein solutions for the future. Its founder, Lê Thanh Hoài Phương, did not take the easy path when she chose to pursue microbial fermentation technology—a field still nascent and full of challenges in Vietnam. Yet it was this bold decision that turned Yeast Era into one of the pioneering symbols of food biotechnology in the country, especially as the global trend shifts strongly toward alternative proteins to reduce reliance on industrial livestock farming.
At the heart of Yeast Era is YERA Protein, a microbial protein produced from yeast through advanced fermentation technology. Unlike traditional protein sources that require large amounts of land, water, and time, YERA can be produced rapidly using minimal resources and with almost zero emissions. With its easy digestibility, immune-boosting properties, and cardiovascular benefits, YERA not only addresses nutritional needs but also aligns with the global movement toward greener, healthier consumption.
After five years of persistent research and optimization of its production process, 2024 marked a turning point for Yeast Era when the company won TECHFEST, Vietnam’s prestigious national event for innovation and startups. Not long after, Yeast Era appeared on Season 7 of Shark Tank Vietnam and successfully secured an investment of 15 billion VND from Shark Nguyễn Văn Thái. This milestone not only brought in financial support but also opened the door to strategic connections across the national networks of food industry, investment, and innovation.
Unlike many tech startups that stop at prototype models, Yeast Era has translated its technology into practice by building a large-scale microbial protein production facility—one of the first three factories in the world dedicated to this product line. This serves as a critical foundation for Yeast Era to realize its strategy of expanding into international markets, targeting regions with large populations, rising nutritional demands, and significant ecological pressures such as Indonesia, India, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. In Indonesia, the product is positioned in the mid-range segment, while in Europe, Yeast Era gains a competitive edge by offering prices up to 50% lower than comparable products, catering to consumers seeking clean protein at reasonable costs.
The journey of Yeast Era reflects a new generation of Vietnamese startups daring to venture into deep tech and scientific fields, instead of solely focusing on commercial or digital platform models. It demonstrates the integration potential of Vietnam’s biotechnology sector when invested in methodically and aligned with global trends such as food security, climate crisis, and agricultural transformation.
In the near future, Yeast Era not only aims to expand its production capacity but also plans to develop a broader product portfolio based on its microbial ecosystem—ranging from food and animal feed to bio-based industrial materials. Its greater mission is not merely to become a food brand, but to help redefine the very concept of protein: making it more sustainable, transparent, and equitable for both the planet and its people.
