FEAR & GREED | Business News The quiet Aussie sector doing world-changing things
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Dec 26, 2025 Stefan von Imhoff, co-founder of Alts.co and a leader in alternative investing, shares insights into Australia's booming biotech sector. He discusses how world-class universities and government support are fueling this growth. Topics include VOW, Australia’s first cultured meat company, and Inventia, which innovates drug testing on living tissue. Stefan emphasizes the importance of sustainable business models in biotech, highlighting the balance between commercial goals and altruism in this exciting field.
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Australia’s Biotech Foundations
- Australia’s biotech edge starts with world-class universities producing top researchers.
- Strong government grant funding and engineering culture accelerate risky scientific startups.
VOW’s Cultured Foie Gras Example
- VOW became the first company legally allowed to sell cultured meat in Australia and sells cultured Japanese quail foie gras.
- Stefan describes cultured meat as actual animal cells grown via cell farming, not plant-based substitutes.
Singapore As A Launchpad
- Singapore helped VOW gain early traction due to its high-end dining culture and food-security needs.
- That market fit enabled VOW to scale before launching commercially in Australia.