Singapore-based Prefer, a food tech startup using fermentation to create affordable and sustainable flavors like its popular bean-free coffee has reported an oversubscribed US$4.2 million fundraising round alongside the recent commercial launch of its soluble coffee and cocoa powders for the rapidly growing beverage and confectionery segments.
Prefer has also announced its first commercial partnerships for international expansion with Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd and The Coffee Ferm in Thailand and Australia respectively.
Jake Berber, CEO and Co-Founder of Prefer said that it will inject fund into scaling its coffee production to 500 tonnes annually through 3rd party manufacturers based in the Asia Pacific region.
It also aims to scale its cocoa production at its Singapore pilot plant, while also deepening its research and development (R&D) on cocoa flavor development, and expand global partnerships with a continued focus in Asia.
Using byproducts such as rice and soy, Prefer’s flavors are developed using a proprietary fermentation and roasting process. Currently, it supplies its ingredients to food manufacturers, private label retailers, and flavor houses, offering affordable ingredients that replicate the taste and functionality of coffee and cocoa at a fraction of the carbon footprint.
Prefer claims to offer affordable ingredients that replicate the taste and functionality of coffee and cocoa, with reduced carbon footprint. As an example, its Prefer coffee claims 85% lower emissions and 50% cheaper than the current market prices of traditional Arabica.
Prefer’s commercial partnership with Ajinomoto in Thailand involves the development of sustainable coffee beverages aligned with the ‘Eat Well, Live Well’ lifestyle. In Australasia, it partnered with The Coffee Ferm to license Prefer’s proprietary flavor technology to scale local manufacturing and distribution.
Earlier in July 2025, Prefer partnered Singapore-based retailer Melvados to introduce co-branded coconut latte ice cream using Prefer’s bean-free coffee alternative. Prefer will also be debuting its cocoa-free chocolate towards the end of 2025.
Prefer will continue to focus on its goal to be a B2B ingredient supplier, while seeking further retail collaborations in the near future.
