Endless West Lands $60M In Funding Ahead of B2B Platform Launch

Molecular spirits startup Endless West has pulled in another $60 million in funding to support the launch of its B2B platform, Blank Collective.

The new capital round, announced on Wednesday, was led by private equite group and existing investor Level One Fund, who’s tech-heavy portfolio includes CPG brands including MatchaBar, JUST and online grocer Good Eggs. Funds managed by UBS O’Connor, Horizon Ventures, SOSV, Casa Verde, and Rage Capital also participated, bringing the total funding for the San Francisco-based company to $95 million.

Having initially launched with a focus on molecular wine (as Ava Winery), Endless West pivoted to distilled spirits after realizing that the product didn’t meet federal guidelines for classification as wine. From its Bay Area laboratory, the company uses a combination of carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and other elements (plus added aromatics and flavors derived from other sources) to recreate the molecular structure of spirits without the need to age the liquid or engage in resource-intensive production. Its current offerings inlcude Glyph – a whiskey-inspired spirit (43% ABV) which is sold in three expressions: original, the Scotch-inspired Glyph Royal and the bourbon-esque Glyph Spice – Gemello (a take on moscato) and Kazoku, a sake analog.

However, the new funding will not be directed to product development as much as supporting the launch of Blank Collective, a B2B platform that aims to deliver “creative, product development, and production services” to outside brands, including its molecular production process. The Blank Collective is expected to launch in a “matter of weeks,” according to the release.

“Since we founded the company we’ve been pushing the boundaries of what people thought was possible in the wine and spirits industry,” said Endless West co-founder and CEO Alec Lee in a press release. “I’m thrilled to announce this next round of funding that will help us take our incredible technology to the world and make it available for others looking to create their own great products.”